Flash foods leave 2 dead in Connecticut, state of emergency declared

Parts of southwestern Connecticut were hit hit by severe flooding from as much as a foot of rain Sunday, washing out roads, trapping people in cars and a restaurant, and killing two women who were swept away into a river.

Gov. Ned Lamont has also declared a state of emergency on Monday as a result of the damage. He said more than 100 people were evacuated by search and rescue teams Sunday evening.

"This emergency declaration may help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation, and in particular can help prioritize potential federal resources such as equipment and work crews that can assist state and local crews with repairing infrastruction damage," Lamont said. "I strongly encourage anyone in the western area of the state to stay alert for updates before traveling and do not attempt to drive through any flooded roads."

Floodwaters swept two people into the Little River in the town of Oxford, but officials weren't able to immediately reach the area because of high waters and had to respond to other emergency calls. According to the town, their car stalled, they tried to get out and were quickly swept away as the road turned into a rushing river.

The bodies of two women who disappeared during the storm were recovered Monday in Oxford, officials said. They were identified Monday by state police as 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71 Audrey Rostkowski, both of Oxford.

Videos posted on Facebook showed severe flooding in Oxford overtaking roads and homes, with at least one video showing a small building being washed downstream. The town said at least six bridges have been washed out.

In Southbury, a bystander filmed as Lucas Barber waded through chest-deep water to help a man whose car had become largely submerged in a flash flood.

“I pulled over, grabbed some rope that’s in the back of my car for emergencies, and threw my phone and wallet on the seat and ran out there,” Barber told The New York Times.

Barber pulled the trapped driver, Patrick Jennings, out of the floating car along with his golden retriever.
“He got me all the way out of the water, the dog comes swimming up and the rest is history,” Jennings told the Times.

In nearby Danbury, city officials said in a statement that a mudslide prompted the evacuation of a home.

Eighteen people had to be rescued from a flooded restaurant and a nearby home in Beacon Falls on Sunday amid rising floodwaters and concerns about the restaurant's structure being compromised. No serious injuries were reported.

Emergency crews in Danbury evacuated multiple buidings due to a "mudslide situation" and flooding. At least 20 people were rescued from flooded cars.

In Newtown, residents were advised to stay in their homes due to road flooding, and firefighters in Greenwich said they responded to over 20 calls during a 12-hour period, many of them due to storm-related flooding.

Road closures in Connecticut

Dozens of roads in Connecticut remain closed on Monday, with more rain and flooding expected throughout the day. Some Metro-North trains are also being impacted. 

How much rain did Connecticut get?

Some parts of Connecticut, including Woodbury, received over 6 inches of rain within 12 hours, with some areas receiving close to a foot. NBC Connecticut meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan called it "an exceptional event," and said the rain in Oxford and Southbury was close to a 1,000-year flood.

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Over 10" of rain in about 12 hours around Oxford and Southbury is close to a 1-in 1000 year flood. That means rain totals like these have an approximately 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year. An exceptional event. pic.twitter.com/GoZinQ4m0o

— Ryan Hanrahan (@ryanhanrahan) August 18, 2024

Here's a closer look at some of the rainfall totals, by town:

• Newtown: 12.17″
• Oxford: 11.93″
• Monroe: 9.98″
• Middlebury: 9.55″
• Redding: 9.22″
• Naugatuck: 8.4″
• Bethel: 7.92″
• Norwalk: 7.08″
• Stamford: 6.87″
• Brookfield: 6.86″
• New Fairfield: 6.82″
• Seymour: 5.92″
• New Canaan: 5.63″
• Danbury: 5.12″
• North Port: 4.86″
• Meriden: 4.43″
• Greenwich: 3.98″
• Bethany: 3.84″
• Wallingford: 3.83″
• Westport: 3.55″
• Shelton: 2.83″

Weather officials say Sunday's flooding was unrelated to Hurricane Ernesto, which on Monday was over the open Atlantic Ocean but still expected to cause powerful swells, dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast.

River flood warnings remained in effect Monday morning for Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties. Click here for the latest severe weather alerts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.