The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $1.3 million to Brookfield to address longtime flooding in the Meadowbrook Manor neighborhood.

The neighborhood has experienced persistent flooding from Lime Kiln Brook for more than five decades, in some cases so severe that contaminated septic water has flooded dining rooms, kitchens and living areas.

The $1.3 million federal award will help create a new flood-relief storm sewer to augment the current drainage system and provide relief during high intensity storms. The brook will be diverted in order to alleviate flooding conditions in the 128-home neighborhood.  Back-to-back 100-year level floods in 2011 prompted the mitigation plan. 

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy along with 5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty applaud FEMA and Brookfield for this wise investment. They say the flooding has created a serious public health and safety hazard in the neighborhood that can only be addressed by new, improved engineering.

The FEMA award will fund 75 percent of the $1.7 million project, with the remainder of the cost to be covered by the town. $2 million in funding for the project was approved by Brookfield residents during a May referendum.  The town will now only have to pay a portion of the project cost.