Audio: Protecting cities from future Henris, and worse

A conversation with DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes
CT Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes at Fire Dept. Headquarters in New London, 8/23/21
CT Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes at Fire Dept. Headquarters in New London, 8/23/21 Photo credit Dave Mager/WTIC News

Despite dire forecasts of a life-threatening, high-tide storm surge, Tropical Storm Henri largely spared Connecticut's coastline cities.

But as seas rise and storms become stronger and more frequent, state officials are warning the public that comprehensive, costly infrastructure improvements must be made.

The day after the heart of Henri doused Southern New England, Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes was in New London, which traditionally suffers from crippling downtown floods.

Appearing together at fire department headquarters on flood-prone Bank St., Dykes, Gov. Ned Lamont and New London Mayor Michael Passero called the city's recent upgrade to a critical pumping system an example of successful, and desperately needed, resiliency measures.

Dykes spoke to WTIC's Dave Mager:

A City of New London poster display of the Shaw's Cove pumping system. Recent upgrades have helped prevent flooding of Bank St. and other downtown roads.
A City of New London poster display of the Shaw's Cove pumping system. Recent upgrades have helped prevent flooding of Bank St. and other downtown roads. Photo credit Dave Mager/WTIC News
Featured Image Photo Credit: Dave Mager/WTIC News