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Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency following Sunday’s deadly flooding across western Connecticut, calling it a once in 1,000-year storm. With 27 state roads washed out, and dozens more local roads, Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said the recovery could be measured in weeks in some areas. “We’ve had several hundred crews out there looking at all of our infrastructure, inspecting above and below the surface of the roadway and the bridges to see what we may or may not be able to find,” he said. Lamont warned drivers to avoid roads in affected areas, even if they appear clear. “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,'” Lamont said. “There could be a culvert under there. Water could be going under that; that thing can go anytime. Please pay special attention there.” Two women, Ethelyn Joiner and Audrey Rostkowski, are confirmed dead in Oxford. “A rash of water came in, the vehicle shifted, the firefighter fell down, the victim fell down, got swept down the river,” said Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pellitier. “The second victim was in a vehicle, climbed out, and tried crossing the water. Made it to a sign, and was hanging on to the sign.” Parts of northern Fairfield County and the Naugatuck River Valley received one foot of rain. Despite that, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said that Stevenson Dam along Lake Zoar is structurally sound. But 20 cars remained trapped at Kettletown State Park, where a bridge is washed out. The National Guard will figure out how to get those vehicles out. The park will remain closed for the season, DEEP said. In Monroe, the water was so deep that the Norwalk Fire Department’s deep water rescue vehicle was no match for the floodwaters as they rescued a family on Old Station House Road. “It looked like a raging river running through somebody’s yard,” said Deputy Chief Joe Coppola. “Our high water rescue truck could not get through this, so the plan was to bring in some contractors that have some heavy equipment. One was an excavator – a track excavator – and the other one was a Lull forklift.” Lamont, who delayed his trip to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, declared a state of emergency on Monday. He’s asking for federal disaster assistance. “We will provide every ounce of effort as a federal delegation,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “Spare no energy or effort in seeking federal help from FEMA and other agencies.” Connecticut State Police are using dogs and air assets to survey the damage. The state Department of Public Health is responding, too. “Why is Public Health there?” said Lamont. “They’ve got to pay special attention to our nursing homes, special attention to our hospitals.” "
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