Safety
Resident State Troopers
Emergency Services: Call 911 for immediate police, fire, and ambulance assistance.
Washington, CT Resident State Trooper Office: For non-emergency matters, 860-868-9671. Voice mail options are available.
Connecticut State Police, Troop L - Litchfield (Washington, Warren, and Kent): After-hours + 24-hour service is available at 860-868-2100 or, within Connecticut, 1-800-953-9949. Troop L Facebook page
Roads
The roads around Lake Waramaug have been designated as "State Scenic Roads," acknowledging their unique beauty. Respect the speed limit, which is 25 mph, except on Route 45. The roads can be narrow, with reduced sight lines around curves and, most importantly, active with walkers, campers, bikers and children. Please drive even slower around areas with children and recreational users.
Trim roadside vegetation on Lake roads to eliminate outcroppings, maintain sightlines and enhance road safety. This benefits the Lake as well, since the Department of Transportation will spray chemical herbicide on roadside growth, which is not desirable (even though they assert it will not harm the Lake).
If you find a hazardous condition on the road around the lake, including signage, obstructions, posts, etc., please report it to the police or info@waramaugassoc.org.
We have heard from many lake residents who are concerned about safety on the road around the lake. In addition to cars and trucks, there are many walkers and cyclists, as well as animals who cross the road to drink from the lake. A deer was recently struck by a car, and a moose was seen crossing the road on West Shore. It is important to remember to drive slowly and carefully and not try to pass on the narrow road.
As you know, there is a great deal of construction around the lake with an increased number of large machines and vehicles. There has also been an increase in illegally parked cars and trucks, in some cases, blocking one lane of the road. The police are aware of the problem and have asked us to report illegally parked vehicles so they can be ticketed. If you see any illegally parked vehicles, please phone the police at 860-868-9671 with the location.
For those of you with construction or landscaping projects, PLEASE ask those working for you to drive carefully, observe the speed limit, and park safely without blocking the road.
Property Identification
Address identification for emergency personnel is required in Washington and recommended in the other towns. Ambulance, fire and police services need to quickly find your home, so place your clearly visible street number on an object close to the road.
Place owner identification for docks, boats and small watercraft which may be set adrift by storms or other events (as happens every season). Please mark your name and address or phone number in a conspicuous place.
Search & Rescue Airboat
Members of the Association contributed to the acquisition of an Airboat to assist in emergency situations on the Lake. Although the Airboat has a special muffler, it will be noisy during its brief and hopefully infrequent use and training sessions. The Airboat will be stored in the Boat Storage Building at the Washington Boat Ramp during the winter season.
Severe Weather Precautions
In anticipation of severe storms, please be sure to do the following:
Remove and Secure Property: Articles of personal property at the waterfront and elsewhere should be brought inside or substantially secured. Particular attention should be paid to articles which can be picked up by storm winds — furniture, boating equipment, inflatables, fuel containers, surfing platforms, dock sections, etc. Check the shoreline carefully, and note the water level; a deluge may result in overflows!
Identify Property: Make sure that all property, including dock sections, is marked to identify ownership — name, address, telephone number. Since much property may become airborne during a powerful storm, the task of owner identification will be simplified if all property is marked.
Emergency Services: Call 911 for police, fire and ambulance assistance.
Weather Links:
Wildlife
We are lucky to live in an area we share with a multitude of wildlife. Increasingly, larger species such as coyotes, bobcats, black bears and even a moose(!) have been seen in the area. Always practice caution and keep a large, safe distance between you and a wild animal. And please let us know when you see one, as well as your address or location.