Two People Dead in Connecticut After Flash Flooding Event

Two people are dead after flash flooding ripped through Connecticut on Sunday. How did this situation develop and how long will the rain stick around? Read on for all of the details.

Flash Flooding Situation Unfolds Across Parts of the Northeast, Killing Two People

Dangerous flooding unleashed across parts of the Northeast to bring the weekend to a close, resulting in the deaths of two people in Connecticut. According to the Oxford fire chief, the two people were found dead in the town that is located about 15 miles to the northwest of New Haven.

In addition to the fatalities, crews had to launch multiple water rescues to help about 100 people. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood emergency on Sunday. This was later downgraded to a flood warning that remained in effect through most of Monday morning. The alerts encompassed the communities of Danbury, Waterbury, and Fairfield.

The southwestern corner of Connecticut picked up 6 to 10 inches of rain in a period of six to nine hours. Looking at specific totals, the city of Monroe measured 9.98 inches of rain out of this weather maker. Southbury reported 10.41 inches of rain while Shelton picked up 9.74 inches.

The torrential rain hit the Oxford area particularly hard. First responders were sent to rescue 19 people and a dog from a restaurant and apartment on Sunday night. The Brookside Inn was inundated with rushing water, worrying officials that the restaurant inside was in danger of washing away in the torrent.

Travel Disrupted as Rain Continued to Fall at a Fast Clip

Southbury Police warned people to stay home on Sunday as multiple roads were flooded in the region. As of Monday, some of the roads in the western part of the state remained closed due to the flooding situation.

Train service was disrupted after a mudslide hit near Seymore. Both directions of the Metro-North Railroad Waterbury Branch were suspended as a result. Another landslide in Danbury created a gas leak by an apartment complex, forcing the evacuation of all of the residents. An additional apartment complex in Danbury was evacuated because of flooding.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that the state's emergency operations center is keeping tabs on the developing situation. The agency deployed an urban search and rescue team to the hard-hit town of Southbury.

Other impacts blamed on the weather maker include the closure of two state parks due to flooding. Air travel was also disrupted with the cancellation of the over 700 flights across the three major airports that serve the New York City metro area. LaGuardia, Newark, and JFK were all put under ground stops for a time on Sunday as the inclement weather moved into the region.