2 dead, at least 100 evacuated after flooding sweeps through Connecticut

Heavy rainfall in the Northeast has caused extensive flooding since Sunday, leading to at least two deaths and many more evacuations.

Flash flood warnings were declared in Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield and Hartford counties in Connecticut Sunday evening, according to the state's emergency management service, while Suffolk County in Long Island, New York also saw warnings into Monday morning.

Up to 10 inches of rain pelted parts of Connecticut overnight, resulting in at least 100 evacuations from what Governor Ned Lamont called "unsafe conditions" in a statement released Sunday.

Two women who were swept away by flood waters in the town of Oxford on Sunday were found dead, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said in a news conference Monday afternoon.

On Sunday afternoon, firefighters were on the scene attempting to help one woman stuck inside a vehicle when a flood of water burst through, shifting the car and causing the firefighter and victim to fall into the water, Oxford fire chief Scott Pelletier said in a press conference Monday. Despite another firefighter's efforts to save the woman, she was washed away.

The second victim was also in a car when she climbed out and tried to cross the water. She made it to a sign and was clinging to it as firefighters tried to reach her but she ultimately succumbed to the rushing water. Both of the bodies were recovered as of Monday morning.

Water rescues, mudslides reported

Lamont also called the storm "historic" for some areas of the state, saying emergency crews would work to begin surveying and cleaning up damage caused by the "severe and sudden rainfall" Monday morning.

State Sen. Tony Hwang (R) said in a press conference Monday afternoon that the state saw up to 16 inches of rain.

Residents of the western portion of Connecticut are urged to stay home until the waters have receded.

Commissioner of the Department of Transportation Garrett Eucalitto said that 27 state roads were closed as of 1:00 p.m. Monday and that barrels, cones and caution tape were stationed around impassable roadways.

"Do not ever attempt to drive through any flooded roads," the governor's statement said. "A good number of roads in the western portion of the state are closed and are expected to remain closed for an extended period." Real-time updates on road closures can be found at ctroads.org .

The National Weather Service said late Sunday that reports of "water rescues, several mudslides, numerous washed out roadways and bridges as well as swollen rivers" were ongoing from Central Fairfield County into Northern New Haven County.

Lamont reported evacuations from Kettletown State Park in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Monday morning.

CNN reported that emergency crews also evacuated 19 people and a dog from a restaurant and nearby apartment on Sunday, extending a ladder over 100 feet to reach them. Apartment buildings in Danbury also had to be evacuated due to a mudslide and dangerous flooding, CNN likewise reported.

Train service on the Waterbury Branch was suspended in both directions due to a mudslide near Seymour, the Metro-North Railroad said Monday, along with service to the Danbury Branch service because of flooding.

Connecticut weather watches and warnings

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 dead, at least 100 evacuated after flooding sweeps through Connecticut