Hubbard has seen worse flooding

Hubbard flooding wasn't as severe this week compared to last summer.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Charles Davies and his fianc & eacute;e, Kerry Fazenbaker, sat at their dining room table wondering what they're going to do.
"It's going to cost a lot to get out of this," Fazenbaker said Thursday. "We don't know what to do yet."
The basement of the house they rent at 3 Collier Court, on the banks of Mud Run Creek, was among the four on the short street that filled with water Wednesday night and early Thursday.
Davies said that within an hour after the rain started, the water rushed into the basement through a small hole in the block of the home's foundation, destroying the hot water heater, washer and dryer.
"I don't think we have money to move," Davies said as their 14-month-old son, Connor, kept himself occupied by playing with his toys.
Davies said they didn't get the worst of it, however.
The neighbor next door had water going into her kitchen and out the door.
State of emergency
Because of the rain, Mayor Arthur U. Magee declared a state of emergency Wednesday night. He lifted it late Thursday morning.
The high water forced the closing of North Main Street. The sewage treatment plant was bypassed so it wasn't damaged. That allowed raw sewage to flow into Yankee Run Creek.
"We got a jump on it," Magee said of the fire, street and electric departments called out to work. "We just have to clean up the dirt and mud."
The flooding was not as severe as the high waters caused by severe thunderstorms last summer, said service director Al Patrick.
Open for business
On North Main, businesses were open Thursday, unlike after last summer's flooding.
The Pizza Works shop that was forced to close last summer also was serving customers.
Al's Bar & amp; Grille, which was filled with water a year ago, was also open.
Tina McFarland, a cook/bartender at the tavern, explained that sandbags were stacked around the back door to keep the water out.
"It would have been a lot more [water] if they hadn't sandbagged," McFarland said. Some water did get in the establishment.
Although Magee and Patrick received calls at their homes Wednesday night, they had few at their offices Thursday.
"I think people understood," Patrick said.
Federal funds
As a result of last year's flooding, the city received $260,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make repairs. The agency still owes the city $30,000, said Auditor Michael Villano.
Magee said he doubts the city qualifies for FEMA funds this time.
The mayor used this week's flooding to emphasize the need for voter approval of a 0.5 percent increase in the city income tax, which will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
"The tax is so important. We need money and manpower," Magee asserted.
yovich@vindy.com