Connecticut sees flooding, outages, evacuations as heavy rains hit state
Heavy rains in Connecticut caused flash flooding and some very tricky driving conditions throughout the day on Sunday across wide swathes of the state.
As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, 1,278 out 1,314,719 Eversource customers , and 58 United Illuminating customers in Connecticut were without power.
The National Weather Service reported that as of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, up to 2 inches of rain had fallen in western portions of Hartford County, with the expected rainfall rate at 1 to 2 inches per hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area.
There were flood watches throughout the state including one for southwestern Hartford County that had a flash flood warning until 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Flash flooding was expected in Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, East Hartford, Southington, Glastonbury, Newington, Windsor, Wethersfield, South Windsor, Farmington, Bloomfield, Berlin, Rocky Hill, Avon, Plainville, Canton and Burlington, the service reported.
Parts of New Haven County also were hit hard, with water filling streets and runoff too fast for drains to handle. The weather service sent a travel warning for Greater New Haven through 7:15 p.m.
In Danbury, there were at least six flooded roads, many in the downtown area. There was a water rescue on West Street when two vehicles were submerged in standing water.
There were also evacuations at two areas of Danbury, one on Shelter Rock and the other on Memorial Drive.
At Shelter Rock, the heavy rain caused a landslide and a gas leak. Danbury authorities were on scene investigating. Danbury police also confirmed a call for flooding, water damage and evacuations at on Memorial Drive.
In Newtown, the town’s police department posted on Facebook that multiple roads in town were flooded due to heavy rainfall.
“We are advising residents to stay in their homes if at all possible,” the post said. “Also, please be advised that emergency responders will only be dispatched for residential flooding that presents an immediate risk to safety. We understand that water in your basement is alarming and inconvenient, however emergency resources are not equipped or staffed to respond to minor basement flooding.”
On the state highways, troopers from Troop G responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer on Interstate 95, according to Connecticut State Police.
I-95 North and South were closed for a time after a 9:30 a.m. crash involving a tractor-trailer on I-95 South in the area of Exit 3. Minor injuries were reported and DEEP was on the scene to assist, state police said.
As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, the highway was partially opened. Traffic was getting by on the shoulder northbound and the left lane on the southbound side. It was unknown when roads were expected to open fully.
In Southbury, state police confirmed flooding on I-84 in the area of Exit 15 around 4 p.m.
“We are seeing a moderate amount of traffic crashes around the state at this time,” state police said on Sunday afternoon.
More than 4 inches of rain had fallen in Danbury with more on the way as of Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
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