Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Residents, especially those who were severely impacted by both the July and September 13th storm events, are eager to know more about what steps can be taken to mitigate future impacts on their homes and businesses.

In the aftermath of the flooding, I worked with our Regional Council of Government, MetroCOG, to bring together representatives from Fairfield, Trumbull, and Bridgeport. The purpose of the gathering was to have state and local officials and professionals gather with state agencies, emergency operations leaders, and representatives from the federal government to hear from one another, and you can read about our conversations here.

As Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, and the surrounding region continue to recover from last week’s devastating rain storm, we are now facing a Nor’easter this weekend. The State Emergency Management officials have been briefing local leaders with an update published this morning at 10:30 am. You can access this morning’s update here. The next update will be shared at 4 pm Friday. The current forecasting models are fair, approaching good.

Many of you continue to recover from the Rain Bomb event last weekend that resulted in massive flooding. The town and the state are encouraging residents to report all storm damage via the Crisis Track system which you can access here.

Next week, I will join officials from Fairfield, Bridgeport and Trumbull, as well as state agencies to assess storm impacts and current efforts underway as well as next steps.

Yesterday’s devastating flood waters have impacted hundreds of our neighbors here in Fairfield and Bridgeport and throughout the state. The state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) reported that Fairfield received 5.92 inches of rain and Bridgeport 4.17 inches in just a matter of hours.

Today, I am reaching out to ask that those who were impacted to please take a moment to report damages via the DEMHS Damage Self Report form which can be accessed via the QR code below or this link.

This form is not a claim form or a request for assistance. It will allow the state to gather data on the extent of the damage and then determine if we are eligible for any available federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Small Business Administration (SBA). The more information we have the better, and no dollar amount of damage is too small to report.

As we mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and remember the 2,977 victims, Fairfield and Bridgeport Fire Departments gathered our communities first thing this morning.

Together we honored the fallen heroes, remembered all who died, the family and friends they left behind, and those who have died in the years since.

With the 250th Anniversary of our nation celebrated this 4th of July, I have a few thoughts about America’s 250th to share with all of you. But first, please stay safe in this extreme heat. Our local libraries and senior centers are official cooling centers, with the most dangerous heat expected today and tomorrow. Check on your neighbors and pay attention to your own bodies as you move around in this weather.

This year, the legislature passed two bills related to responsible use of artificial intelligence in Connecticut.

The first is Senate Bill 5: An Act Concerning Online Safety, AKA the C.A.R.T. Act.

The C.A.R.T. Act creates clear standards for powerful AI systems, while preparing Connecticut's residents, workers, students, small businesses, public agencies, and institutions for an AI-driven economy.

As we head into summer, many of you are thinking about time outdoors, school vacation, and, if you’re lucky, vacation with your family. Another summer event is the primary election, which occurs on August 11th.

This year the legislature made some changes to our Early Voting and Absentee Ballot laws. You can learn more about what that means for you below. You will also find information on upcoming events and activities. The Legislative session may be over, but connecting with the community is year-round.