River flooding from Sandy a major concern

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - While power loss due to wind is a concern, damage due to the rain is also a worry.

In Westfield along route 20, tropical storm Irene dumped rain that caused this area to flood.

"Where I'm standing right now, 22news storm team meteorologist Brian Lapis was standing when tropical storm Irene was arriving. He was watching the Westfield River behind me flooding over its banks and into the road. The good news is, before Irene, this river was 3 feet higher than it is today."

While river conditions look to be an improvement to the way things looked before Irene, some people who work by the Westfield River are certain it will flood this time around.

Robert Lewis said, "It's going to do some flooding. I don't know if it's going to be as bad as Irene because that came down hard and heavy, real quick,” Robert Lewis said. "The way the river comes down and it bends right here and it just gets too much to be handled and it just floods this area out."

After dealing with severe weather last year, emergency managers like Jim Wiggs, are ready to show the changes they've made over last year, mainly with improved communication.

"We're going to try and use every method possible. We've opened up a twitter account, a facebook account for mobile devices and to get by computers if you have access. We have a rapid notify system like a reverse 911 to call out to people,” Director of Emergency Management in Westfield Jim Wiggs said.

While emergency managers are getting ready, residents feel that last years storms have prepared them for this year.

"Because of the tornadoes and with Irene, what we encountered last time, me and my family are pretty much ready for it. We've got our generators and everything. We should be okay.” Geoffrey Cartello said.