Flash flooding emergency in Connecticut prompts water rescues, evacuations

Water rescues are underway after heavy rainfall caused a flash flood emergency in the Connecticut counties of New Haven and Fairfield, according to the National Weather Service.

Water rescues are underway after heavy rainfall caused a flash flood emergency in the Connecticut counties of New Haven and Fairfield, according to the National Weather Service. The emergency is in effect until midnight, the weather service said, amid “ongoing widespread flooding and water rescues.” The emergency includes the cities of Waterbury, Danbury and the town of Fairfield. David Stark of the National Weather Service in New York told CNN Weather there had been 6-10 inches of rainfall across southwestern Connecticut in a span of about six to nine hours Sunday, the bulk falling in the afternoon. Monroe, Connecticut, received 9.98 inches of rain, a one in 200-year event for the city. In an update Sunday evening, the weather service said flooding had also affected the cities of Oxford, Seymore and Cheshire, which are outside the flash flood emergency. “Between two and six inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.0 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring,” the weather service cautioned. “Emergency management is continuing to report ongoing water rescues, several mudslides, numerous washed out roadways and bridges as well as swollen rivers taking place from Central Fairfield County into Northern New Haven County. In addition, emergency management official are assessing the integrity of several dams in the area,” the weather service said.