Photos & Video of Tropical Storm Irene in Milford, Connecticut
Tropical Storm Irene hits Woodmont Beach
Here's some more photos of Tropical Storm Irene's impacts on the shore of Milford, CT! All the pictures have to do with the storm surge, especially some of the debris that has been pushed ashore by the high water. Take a look at the other photos as well! Tropical Storm Irene Slams the Connecticut Coast! Photos! and Tropical Storm Irene slams Connecticut more photos! The waves and surge are the largest i've seen in my 24 years of life and was awesome to see but also difficult to watch as each new wave brought more damage to people's properties. Irene is just the latest in a series of crazy weather events in 2011. From 3 feet of snow to hurricanes and record heat!
Above is a very short video I took of the waves crashing along Beach Ave in Milford, CT during Tropical Storm Irene. It's a short video because my camera ran out of space but you can see the large rolling waves crash up to the road. Normally the beach is at least 75 feet wide and the water calm as a lake. Here, there is no beach and the water levels are close to 10 feet above average! Although I wasn't measuring the wind at the spot, gusts off the water were definitely tropical storm force!
The above photograph was taken at the corner of Odell Ave and Bayshore Drive in Milford, CT. The photographic is looking towards a low strip of land that separates Long Island Sound from a tidal marsh. This area floods on a regular basis and 90% of the buildings have now been raised up on stilts to prevent future flooding. Personally, I feel this low elevation area should not be occupied by homes but allowed to be a coastal ecosystem of marshes, which would prevent storm surge from moving inland, while also helping to filter storm run off water before reaching the sound.
Storm surge isn't just about the water levels and the waves. Storm surge is also full of debris! As the storm surge approaches the coast, the water inundates the coastline and picks up anything that is loose or falls apart. This results in large branches, driftwood and even property to float around. The force of the waves can cause these objects to create even more damage to the coastline.
The above photograph was taken on Gulf Street in Milford, CT. Notice the natural debris (seaweed, reeds) and the human made debris (wood planks) washing up onto the roadway!
If the beach is completely submerged, does that mean the Bayview Beach Rules don't apply? Notice the beach rules sign, mostly submerged beneath the storm surge!
Check out this storm surge debris in a more residential neighborhood. It looks like timbers from someone's deck or retaining wall have been dislodged and washed up the street! This debris and sand, also clearly marks how high the storm surge rose at it's peak.
All these photos were taken during the storm but from a safe position. I made sure to be away from any power lines, I NEVER stepped into the water and I always stayed away from any trees in case of falling branches. Ironically, a few of my photographs from that day included stop signs surrounded by feet of water. I thought this was an appropriate juxtaposition, giving the safety message "turn around, don't drown" a good visual. NEVER drive through water without knowing the depth!
These are just a couple of the photographs I took the day Tropical Storm Irene hit, please check out the other photos too! Also, if you need further explanation of what exactly storm surge is, check it out here!
