Intense rainfall across the Northeast has led to significant flooding since Sunday, claiming at least two lives and prompting numerous evacuations.

Flash flood alerts were issued for Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, and Hartford counties in Connecticut on Sunday evening. Similar warnings were also in place in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, into Monday morning.

Certain areas in Connecticut experienced up to 10 inches of rainfall overnight, resulting in over 100 evacuations due to what Governor Ned Lamont referred to as “unsafe conditions” in a statement made on Sunday.

Tragically, two women were found deceased after being swept away by floodwaters in the town of Oxford, as confirmed by the Connecticut State Police’s commanding officer, Col. Daniel Loughman, in a news briefing on Monday.

Firefighters attempted to rescue one woman trapped in her vehicle on Sunday afternoon when a surge of water flooded the area, causing both the firefighter and the victim to fall into the water. Despite the efforts of another firefighter, she was swept away, according to Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pelletier during Monday’s briefing.

The second victim also attempted to escape her car but was ultimately overwhelmed while clinging to a sign as firefighters sought to reach her. Tragically, she was also swept away. The bodies of both women were recovered by Monday morning.

Reports of rescues and mudslides

Governor Lamont referred to the storm as “historic” for certain regions in the state and stated that emergency teams would begin assessing and clearing damage from the “sudden and severe rainfall” early Monday.

State Senator Tony Hwang (R) mentioned in a Monday conference that some areas recorded as much as 16 inches of rain.

Authorities are advising residents in western Connecticut to remain indoors until the waters subside.

Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, announced that as of 1 PM on Monday, 27 state roads were closed. Barrels, cones, and caution tape had been placed around inaccessible roadways.

“Never attempt to drive through any flooded roads,” the governor stressed in the statement. “Many roads in western Connecticut are closed and are likely to remain closed for an extended period.” For the latest updates on road closures, visit ctroads.org.

The National Weather Service reported late Sunday that ongoing incidents included “water rescues, several mudslides, and numerous washed-out roads and bridges, along with swollen rivers,” particularly from Central Fairfield County to Northern New Haven County.

Governor Lamont shared on a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that evacuations occurred at Kettletown State Park on Monday morning.

According to CNN, emergency personnel also evacuated 19 individuals and a dog from a restaurant and adjacent apartment on Sunday, using a ladder that extended over 100 feet to reach them. Additionally, mudslides and dangerous flooding required residents of apartment buildings in Danbury to evacuate, as reported by CNN.

Train services on the Waterbury Branch were suspended in both directions on Monday due to a mudslide near Seymour, according to Metro-North Railroad, which also reported disruptions on the Danbury Branch due to flooding.