Connecticut Underwater: Historic Flash Floods Leave Chaos and Tragedy in Their Wake

Devastating flooding hit Connecticut over the weekend, leaving at least two dead and countless shocked as 100s had to be evacuated to safety. 

A Danger Zone 

Connecticut has officially declared a state of emergency after some western parts of the state experienced near-Biblical flooding this past weekend when a foot of rain gushed down suddenly and unexpectedly. 

Complete Chaos 

Roads suddenly turned into raging rivers on Sunday and early Monday in parts of the state, as well as in New York’s Long Island. Aside from trapping people in cars and a restaurant, multiple vehicles were also drenched in mud.

At least two deaths have been confirmed thus far. 

A Fatal Flood 

According to Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman, two bodies were discovered on Monday, both believed to be the women who were swept away by the floodwaters on Route 67 in Oxford.  

As the town’s first selectman, George Temple, stated: “This is a tragic and devastating day for Oxford.”

A Senseless Tragedy 

The two women, aged 65 and 71, were stuck in separate cars when they lost their struggle against the floods on Sunday.

Race Against Time 

Connecticut governor Ned Lamont stated that the same day, more than 100 people had to be evacuated by search and rescue teams in Oxford, about 15 miles northwest of New Haven. 

A Race Against Time… or Nature? 

18 people also had to be rescued from Oxford’s Brookside Inn after they became trapped by the deluge. 

Jeremy Rodorigo, a firefighter from Beacon Falls, explained how firefighters had to use a long ladder as a bridge over the gushing waters, allowing people to crawl to safety while cars and other large debris were swept away. 

Others Were Lucky 

Among the people who were lucky enough to be rescued was a woman and her dog, living in the next-door apartment. 

Not Your Average Drizzle 

Declaring a state of emergency on Sunday night, Lamont warned motorists to stay safe when driving through floodwaters, referring to the sudden downpour as “historic”. 

The Heavens Opened 

As stated by David Stark of New York’s National Weather Service, the southwestern part of Connecticut received 6 to 10 inches of rainfall in only six to nine hours. 

9.98 inches of rain gushed down onto the town of Monroe, marking an occurrence for the city that is estimated to happen only once every 200 years.  

Oxford Was Hit Hard 

Oxford, where the women’s bodies were found, was impacted particularly hard by the heavy flooding. 

In his statement, Lament noted: “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.”

Seymour Also Suffered 

At the news conference, Senator Richard Blumenthal referred to the impact in Seymour, a nearby town home to almost 17,000 people, as “heartbreaking and gut-churning.”

Widespread Worry  

Blumenthal stated that damage was inflicted “not just to the physical infrastructure, roads, bridges” but also “to the small businesses, who have suffered damage they cannot recover.”

A Bad Time for the Uninsured  

Blumenthal also added that many of the businesses impacted by the heavy rains are not insured against floods, as it’s not a common occurrence in the region. 

Still Recovering 

Videos depicting stranded cars and flooded roads across western Connecticut were shared on social media.

Over a dozen roads in the area remained closed as of Tuesday morning.

Damage in Danbury 

Damages and road closures also extend into the city of Danbury, home to about 87,000 people and bordering New York’s Putnam County.

Extensive Destruction 

About 12 miles north of Bridgeport, the city of Monroe experienced a significant road collapse near Stevenson Dam where nearly 10 inches of rain drenched the area. 

As stated by Monroe Police Chief Kevin White: “So this is quite heavily traveled throughout the day and this will cause an inconvenience to not only us but to our surrounding neighbors.”

Yes, Climate Change 

Linking the severe weather to climate change, Blumenthal stated the urgency of enhancing the state’s resilience. 

“Resilience against climate change is not just for the coastline,” Blumenthal claimed. “Flash flooding and other disasters affect all of Connecticut. We all have a stake in planning and preparing.” 

A Better Tomorrow? 

While people are still recovering from the extreme destruction, weather forecasters are positive when it comes to the rest of the week’s weather.

The Week’s Weather 

According to the National Weather Service: “High pressure slowly building from the Great Lakes will bring dry, cooler and much less humid conditions on Tuesday. These conditions should last into Thursday before a warming trend begins for late week into the weekend.”

Another Day, Another Storm 

Although occurring at roughly the same time, the storm in Connecticut is not related to Hurricane Ernesto which, while currently over the Atlantic, is predicted to produce dangerous rip currents and strong swells for the east coast. 

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