As Norwich businesses get flood relief, city aims to prevent future floods - what's being done

Though New London County didn’t get a federal disaster declaration from FEMA, some help came from the State of Connecticut for flood-damaged businesses.

Eleven Norwich businesses affected by the Jan.10 Yantic River flooding received mini-grants from a state small business fund Tuesday. The checks, a maximum of $5,000 each, were given to help recover from the flooding.

Seven of the businesses are in the Yantic River Plaza: Coleman Pediatric Therapy, Paragon Salon & Spa, Dexter’s Smoothie Coffee Vault, Nailed It, Small Potatoes Crafts & Gifts, and Path 2 Self Wellness, along with Cove Plaza, the business that owns the property. Busy Bees’ Play Hive, Dave’s Mattress & Furniture Store, United Community and Family Services and the Norwich Comfort Inn are the other four.

The city researched FEMA and Small Business Administration grants to help provide relief for flood-impacted businesses. Federal programs take a long time, so the Norwich Community Development Corporation turned to the state Department of Economic and Community Development and seCTer for help, which they provided, NCDC President Kevin Brown said.

Remembering the flood

The flooding and the threat of the dam breaking was scary for Amy Beckwith, co-owner of Path 2 Self Wellness. She checked in on her business before going to her other job, she said.

“It was just a river,” Beckwith said. “I couldn’t get to the business. I couldn’t see what was going on until nighttime.”

The money Beckwith received Wednesday will be put toward replacing products and fixtures destroyed in the flood, she said.

“It’ll help in a big way for sure,” she said.

Other businesses in the area were less fortunate than Path 2 Self Wellness, and Beckwith is grateful for the help she’s gotten from other businesses, her landlord, and the state, she said.

Flooding problems need to be addressed

The money given Wednesday may only be a drop in the bucket for some business’ costs. The Norwich Comfort Inn, on Otrobando Avenue, has been flooded three times in three years. Flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021 was worse, but the hotel experienced back-to-back flooding in December and January, General Manager Shashank Shekhar said.

During the flooding in January, there was water on the road, and hotel staff were trying to keep a drain clear to keep the property safe. Once the drain overflows, water goes to the hotel. Shekhar said there’s an issue with the drain and he’s called Norwich Public Works multiple times to check things out, he said.

“This has to be fixed,” he said.

While the Comfort Inn is currently open, important parts of the hotel, including elevators, the laundry room, the fitness room, and the pool are out of service, Shekhar said.

Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom acknowledged the money given here won’t be enough to cover all of the losses, and said the damage wasn’t severe enough for the city to qualify for FEMA disaster relief.

City Councilmember Swaranjit Singh also agreed that the money only goes so far, but the gesture shows that Norwich “is willing to work, and we care about everyone,” he said.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments is looking for a long-term solution for flooding in the Yantic River Watershed, and Nystrom wants the other towns along the Yantic River to work with Norwich and the Council of Governments, he said.

“This has been happening for decades, and it needs to stop,” Nystrom said about the river flooding.

While the money doesn't cover much, it's good that the city is searching for a long-term flooding solution, Shekhar said.

“That has to be done, because this area gets flooded every time,” he said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Flood-impacted Norwich businesses receive relief money from the state