Janice R. Andrews
Oxford, Connecticut – After tragic flooding that devastated parts of the state over the weekend, Connecticut is still dealing with the damage. Residents and officials now have the difficult work of evaluating the damage, removing debris, and starting the protracted path to recovery as the floods recede.
Declared State of Emergency
Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut emphasized the gravity of the situation by declaring a statewide emergency following the catastrophic floods. “The sudden and severe flooding has caused significant damage to infrastructure in the western portion of the state, resulting in evacuations, rescues, and more than two dozen road closures that we anticipate will need to be closed for an extended period,” Lamont said.
At least two people lost their lives as a result of the floods, which has had a lasting impact on towns around the state. The heartbreaking loss was verified by Connecticut State Emergency Management Director William Turner, who said that two ladies who were reported missing in Oxford after their automobiles were washed away were discovered dead in the Little River on Monday.
Destroyed Communities
Both rural and urban regions were severely damaged by the flooding, however the majority of the destruction was sustained by the rural populations. “The heaviest rains really seemed to set up from Monroe up into Beacon Falls, and definitely some more rural parts of the state, but away from our major highways like I-95 and I-84,” remarked Turner. Even yet, there were reports of significant damage throughout state and local highways, necessitating quick evaluations to identify the required repairs and reopening schedules.
The municipalities of Oxford, Southbury, and Naugatuck were among the most affected. Bridges were washed out, roads were rendered impassable, and a large number of houses and businesses sustained significant water damage. Dramatic scenes played out in Southbury, as cars became stuck in quickly rising water close to a retail center, and firemen battled to clear storm drains to stop the water from rising higher.
In one very terrifying instance, a driver and his dog were saved from a stuck car in Southbury. Tania Carver, a local, was able to record the rescue on camera, showing a guy slogging through the floodwaters to save the driver and dog. The driver was clearly scared but grateful to be safe, as seen by the way he clutched his prosthetic limb.
Transportation Impact
The transportation system in Connecticut came to a complete halt due to the flooding. Due to a mudslide in Seymour, Metro-North Railroad halted train service on the Waterbury Branch on Monday. As a result, travelers had to find alternate routes. There were some limited bus services available, however officials advised customers to use the New Haven Line to neighboring stations.
Several main thoroughfares were made inaccessible by flooding, mud, and debris, resulting in widespread road closures throughout the region. Particularly bad damage occurred at Oxford, where whole stretches of road were swept away and bridges suffered significant damage or were demolished entirely.
Oxford First Selectman George Campbell was among the local officials who voiced alarm at the extent of the floods. “Many of us who worked all day and night were struck by the power of the raging Little River,” remarked Campbell. “You think a name like Little River wouldn’t be that bad, but it turned into a force of nature that none of us were prepared for.”
Emergency Reaction and Persistent Dangers
To help individuals impacted by the flooding, emergency response personnel have been working nonstop. Following a gas leak at the Woodland Hills Complex on Shelter Rock Road caused by a mudslide, a state of emergency was proclaimed in Danbury, necessitating evacuations and intensive cleanup work.
Public awareness of the storm’s potential hazards was greatly aided by the National Weather Service (NWS). Sunday saw the state continue to be battered by torrential rain, prompting the NWS to declare an uncommon Flash Flood Emergency for portions of western and southern Connecticut. Devastation was left in its path by the downpour, which in some places brought over a foot of rain.
The Newtown neighborhood of Sandy Hook was especially severely affected, receiving almost 12 inches of rain since Sunday morning. In a similar vein, Middlebury reported more than 9.5 inches of rainfall, while Shelton and Monroe recorded just less than 10 inches. Due to the enormous volume of water, local drainage systems were overloaded, causing extensive flooding and serious property damage.
Even though the torrential rains have stopped, the area is still very much at risk of further severe weather. Forecasters cautioned that future storms would increase the amount of flooding in already flooded regions, especially in certain portions of New England and New York. Early on Monday morning, the NWS declared a Flash Flood Emergency for areas of Long Island where an estimated 2 to 3 inches of rain fell per hour.
The Road Ahead and Community Resilience
The ability of Connecticut’s towns to bounce back from this terrible natural tragedy is being put to the test. While cleanup and repair work is being done, local officials are asking the populace to exercise caution and stay away from needless travel.
Mayor Pete Hess of Naugatuck reiterated these ideas and urged locals to avoid the roadways. Hess said on Facebook, “Just because the rain stopped for a little while, this doesn’t mean that you can go drive around.” “A lot of roads are blocked. There are no passable roads. Never go on a drive after dark.”
The path to rehabilitation will be a long and challenging one for those who have lost loved ones or had their homes and businesses devastated. Nonetheless, it is certain that Connecticut will rebound from this tragedy stronger because to the strong sense of community and the drive to rebuild.
It is evident that the state will require a substantial amount of resources and assistance in order to recover from this extraordinary occurrence as emergency personnel continue their job and local officials evaluate the full extent of the damage. Governor Lamont has already stated that, especially in the most severely affected communities, federal assistance may be requested to help finance the rehabilitation operations.
While the cleaning gets underway, locals are urged to be informed, pay attention to official warnings, and assist their neighbors. Although it will take time for the wounds caused by this unprecedented flooding to heal, the people of Connecticut are committed to rebuilding and becoming better as a team.
