After residents along the Houstatonic River were surprised by sudden, severe, surprise flooding in March, officials at First Light Power Resource vowed to talk more with emergency officials in river communities.
The company operates the Stevenson Dam in Oxford.
Valley officials said First Light followed through with its promise Thursday as the Housatonic River flooded for the third time this year.
On Sept. 8, the Houstaonic River hit major flood stage, at 20.53 feet at 2:45 p.m. Residents in the Riverside neighborhood in Oxford, McConney Grove in Derby and The Maples in Shelton had major flooding in the streets and in their homes.
Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti said he was in constant contact with First Light officials about the river levels.
“They’ve been calling me since 3 o’clock this morning,” Lauretti said. “They are keeping us posted on the flows.”
After the March floods, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro sent letters to First Light and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission criticizing the lack of communication about river levels.
The groups agreed to review the Lower Housatonic River flood plan and step up communication with communities along the river, according to a press release from Blumenthal’s office.
“When we had that flooding in March, we agreed we would do better communication and we would talk to each other more,” Lauretti said.
Oxford First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said the company notified the emergency management director about river levels in Oxford.
“I don’t have a complaint about their contact to us,” she said.
The frequent contact meant that the towns could give notice to residents about the rising waters.
In Oxford, the town issued three Code Red notices on Wednesday, and another one Thursday morning, to residents in the Riverside neighborhood.
“We were down there again today, personally notifying the residents to make sure everyone was aware that we were expecting flooding conditions today that could equal the impact from Irene,” Drayton-Rogers said.