ATLANTA, Ga.- Heavy rainfall and severe flooding in Connecticut killed two people and forced over 100 residents to flee, prompting the governor to proclaim a state of emergency.
During a press conference in Oxford on Monday, state police announced that Ethelyn Joiner, 65, and Audrey Rostkowski, 71, were killed after flooding on Route 67 washed them away from their automobiles.
Police said the two fatalities occurred in separate situations on Sunday. According to officials, firefighters were on the scene attempting to extract the victim from the vehicle when a rush of water entered, causing the vehicle to shift and carry the victim downstream. Her body was found Monday, according to authorities.
According to police, one of the firefighters was minorly injured during the attempted rescue. The second victim was in a vehicle on the highway when she climbed out and attempted to cross the flooding. Firefighters attempted to rescue her while she clung onto a traffic sign, but the fast-moving water took her away, according to authorities.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont stated Monday that he had applied for a federal emergency declaration following the weekend’s storms that dumped a record 13 inches of rain in portions of the state.
“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,” according to Lamont.
Lamont urged anybody in western Connecticut to “stay alert for updates before traveling” and to avoid driving on flooded roadways. Lamont stated on Sunday that search and rescue crews assisted at least 100 individuals in evacuating from perilous situations caused by flooding.
“Throughout this afternoon and evening, I have been working with our state’s emergency management team to coordinate with mayors, first selectmen, and other municipal officials on any immediate response needed due to the severe and sudden rainfall that has impacted our state today,” Lamont told the audience.
The National Weather Service cautioned Monday that further rains and scattered thunderstorms could cause flooding in southern Connecticut, as well as sections of northeastern New Jersey and Long Island, NY.
“This will bring the potential for isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding this afternoon into evening,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS).