Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency after flash flooding and storms left at least two people dead, caused extensive structural damage, and forced hundreds of evacuations.
“I have signed a state of emergency declaration in response to the historic flooding that caused extensive damage in Connecticut,” he said.
“This declaration can help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond, including potential federal support.”
Road closures were reported in several Connecticut cities and towns, including Stamford, Danbury, and Southbury. According to Lamont, there have been more than two dozen road closures because of the weather, with those roads expected to remain closed for an extended period.
Officials said there have been two deaths so far. The bodies of two women were recovered in Oxford on Monday. State police identified them as residents.
Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pelletier told reporters at a press conference that firefighters were attempting to rescue one of the women when the river swept her away. A second woman was killed after exiting her car and clinging onto a sign before being swept away by the water.
“Flash flood warnings have been issued by NWS for parts of Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, and Hartford Counties and remain in effective until later tonight or until cancelled,” the agency said.
William Syrett, a professor of meteorology and atmospheric science at Penn State University, referred to the Connecticut–New York system as “training thunderstorms.”
“It’s like each thunderstorm is a car on a train track, and so they just keep going over the same place,” he said.
According to Syrett, the amount of moisture in the air and a slow weather system were “perfect conditions” for the storms.
