The town of Brookfield has declared a "town disaster" after severe storms moved through the state Tuesday and said it will be a multi-day event and it could take days to restore power to everyone.
Town offices are closed Wednesday, according to the town's website, and residents are encouraged to stay home.
Schools were closed for the day Wednesday and will be closed Thursday as well, according to the Brookfield Public Schools website.
Brookfield High School is operating on an emergency generator and it is serving as an emergency shelter.
First Selectman Steve Dunn declared a town disaster on Facebook Tuesday evening and said more emergency resources were coming to aid town crews.
"Every single street has trees down. Most of our roads are impassable. We have dozens of downed power lines that have to get cleared up," Dunn said.
Dunn told NBC Connecticut the 911 system was overwhelmed with calls.
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This is the worst storm damage he's seen in 35 years, he said.
Two people were hurt during the storm.
“They were walking in the greenway and a tree fell on them. So I think one person had a broken arm. They were able to make it to the police station and walk up because it’s right down here, so we got them an ambulance and got them right to the hospital. I don’t think there’s any life-threating injury there though,” Dunn said.
There are hundreds of trees, utility poles and power lines down across town and power is out to 84 percent of town, according to the Eversource website.
Residents are asked to remain indoors while officials assessed the damage. Crews from fire departments in the area have been called in to help Brookfield emergency crews and they will help open roads, then help go door-to-door to check on residents.
Officials remind anyone using a generator to keep them outside and away from open windows. In the immediate aftermath of the storm Tuesday night, nearly 90 percent of town was without power.
Many around town were assessing the damage to their own property. Brookfield resident Heather Tamburri said she was at her boyfriend's mother's home at the time of the storm, and the powerful winds were like nothing she'd ever seen before.
"Really high winds and then you saw the branches falling down then all of a sudden the tree came down through the house came down," Tamburri said.
The women were not hurt, and Tamburri said though she was still in shock, she knows material things can always be replaced.
Brookfield schools and town hall will be closed Wednesday.
