Ridgewood September 7, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Irene causes temporary loss of first floor at village hall under the $1 million FEMA awarded the village for Tropical Storm Floyd in 1999. “The staff was fantastic and the volunteers and the emergency services performed superbly,” said Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert, as he sorted through reports of the damage as staffers inside village hall relocated furniture, telephones, and other equipment to the upper floors. Gabbert said he hoped to have a fairly comprehensive report ready for the council by the Sept. 7 meeting, but could give no further details at press time. He added that there were no fatalities associated with the storm, and only two injuries: a punctured hand and a slashed arm, suffered during damage control efforts. The damages, however, were significant because of municipal Ridgewood’s perennial nemesis: Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. The brook invariably floods during serious rainstorms. During Tropical Storm Floyd, the entire first floor, which was then the police station, was flooded out. The police subsequently relocated to the Pease Library and remained stationed there for six years. Damage and mold led to a complete refurbishment and partial expansion of Ridgewood Village Hall, with the first floor used mostly for part-time recreational activities. Electronics, records, and professional offices were located on the upper floors. “We did everything we could. We were ready well in advance. We had the flood walls up – and the water came right over the flood walls,” said Ridgewood Water Company Director Frank Moritz, who was helping move furniture around village hall last week while the Ridgewood Water Company staff monitored water quality. “We’re going to lose the first floor of village hall for a couple of weeks,” Moritz acknowledged. Ridgewood Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser said the municipality’s bucket truck was used to rescue 28 (continued on page 9) Lighting units waited at the ready for the impending storm. by John Koster Hurricane Irene left the first floor at Ridgewood Village Hall out of general operation for one to two weeks and forced officials to close Graydon Pool early this year, but the fiscal damages from this storm are said to be somewhat