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At least two people were found dead Monday in Connecticut, after over 100 were rescued after torrential rain brought extreme flooding to the western part of the state.Heavy rainfall in the Northeast has caused extensive flooding since Sunday, leading to the deaths and evacuations. Up to 10 inches of rain hit parts of Connecticut, resulting in what Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called “unsafe conditions,” who said a state of emergency was still in effect.
Connecticut State Police said in a news conference Monday morning that two women died after they were “swept away from their vehicles” in floodwaters on Sunday in Oxford, Connecticut. A news release stated that State Police had responded to Route 67 in Oxford around 5 p.m. Sunday on a report of two missing people amid intense flooding. The bodies of Ethelyn Joiner, 65, and Audrey Rostkowski, 71, both of Oxford, were recovered Monday.
Flash flood warnings had been declared in Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield and Hartford counties in Connecticut Sunday evening, while Suffolk County in Long Island, New York also saw warnings into Monday morning. Roads across western Connecticut were severely damaged, including a significant road collapse near Stevenson Dam in Monroe, CT (about 12 miles north of Bridgeport). The National Weather Service said that reports of “water rescues, several mudslides, numerous washed out roadways and bridges as well as swollen rivers” were ongoing from Central Fairfield County into Northern New Haven County.
Roughly 10 inches of rainwater fell in 12 hours near the area of Oxford and Southbury, Conn. In Oxford – about 15 miles northwest of New Haven – emergency crews saved over a dozen people Sunday, with two women were swept away in the floodwaters Sunday. Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said that two bodies believed to be the missing women were found Monday: “Last night the Connecticut State Police assisted with assets and in personnel in the rescue efforts to extract those who were stranded in Kettletown State Park as well as Jackson Cove on Lake Zoar. The only access to rescue was by boat. The efforts were successful and they were evacuated to a shelter in Southbury. Yesterday, it was reported that two women were swept away by floodwaters in the town of Oxford. Two individuals have been located today and it’s believed that the recoveries were of the individuals witnessed and reportedly swept away by floodwaters.”
The Danbury Fire Department said that multiple buildings were evacuated Sunday after city officials described a “mudslide situation” triggered by flooding. Emergency crews also evacuated 100 people from a housing complex for older people, and fire officials said at least 20 were rescued from flooded cars.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement: “It’s just a reminder that we have to hang together at a time like this, especially given the tragedy. Those two women just swept away. It’s just incredible, what happened there. “Do not ever attempt to drive through any flooded roads. A good number of roads in the western portion of the state are closed and are expected to remain closed for an extended period.” Real-time updates on road closures can be found at ctroads.org When you see those yellow cones, stop. You may say, ‘Oh my gosh, look at that road, it looks like it’s OK to me, I don’t see that much water.’ There could be a culvert under there, water could be going under. That thing could go at any time. Please pay special attention there.”
Connecticut Deputy Commissioner of Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Brenda Bergeron said in a statement: “We are talking about rainfall, in some areas, in the 1,000-year level. So we’re talking anywhere from 25-year level, 100-year level, 500-year level, up to 1,000-year level. So it’s really historic, unprecedented flooding.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the state would seek federal funding to repair all the damage: “Who would’ve thought the Little River would turn into a gushing torrent of destruction, which is what happened. That Little River became big. It became a huge, gushing torrent of destruction. We will seek federal help. Be absolutely sure – we will seek federal aid. They’re entitled to it. These communities have suffered an otherwise irreparable cost and damage, and there are programs available.”
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