2 Dead During Historic Flood, More Storms, Flooding Expected Monday

CONNECTICUT — Two Oxford women, Ethelyn Joiner, 65, and Audrey Rostkowski, 71, were found dead after being swept away from their vehicles along Route 67 in Oxford on Sunday afternoon.

At 5:12 p.m. Sunday, State Police responded to Route 67 in Oxford for a report of two missing persons. The heavy rainfall led to flooding, which caused some motor vehicles and their occupants to be swept away by the raging waters. During rescue operations on Monday, rescuers located the two missing individuals.

More than 10 inches of rain fell during a short period of time on Sunday, which triggered mud slides and washed numerous roads away. Videos of flooding and water rescues were all over social media on Sunday.

Fox 61 meteorologist Ryan Breton shared a gripping video of a water rescue involving a man with a prosthetic leg and his dog rescued by a Good Samaritan while trapped in their car at the Southbury Plaza.(You can watch the video on X by clicking here).

The Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 shared video of them rescuing 18 people from the Brookside Inn Restaurant on Sunday in Oxford amid rising flood waters and a severe propane leak. Nobody suffered serious injuries. (You can watch their video on their Facebook page by clicking here).

A total of 50 campers were stranded at Kettletown State Park after a bridge was washed away, Hearst CT reported.

The Town of Southbury is currently operating under a State of Emergency. Public Safety officials are currently assessing the damage in town. There are approximately 800 power outages, 15 roadways are completely closed due to flooding conditions and multiple partial roadway closures throughout town. Naugatuck has also declared a state of emergency.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he has declared a state of emergency in response to the significant flooding that is impacting portions of Connecticut due to the historically severe rainfall that began yesterday afternoon and has caused extensive structural damage to roadways.

“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,” Lamont said Monday. “This emergency declaration may help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation, and in particular can help prioritize potential federal resources such as equipment and work crews that can assist state and local crews with repairing infrastructure damage. I strongly encourage anyone in the western area of the state to stay alert for updates before traveling and do not attempt to drive through any flooded roads.”

Tim Jensen/Patch

More rain, storms spark additional flooding concerns on Monday

"Today is now a *First Alert Weather Day* as the soils are so saturated and some rivers will still be running high, mainly in western Connecticut. While we do expect a lull for most of the state in the late morning and early afternoon, a round of thunderstorms will move through thereafter, firing along and ahead of the cold front. Rain could be heavy at times, renewing the flood risk. A few storms may also become gusty and approach severe limits, with hail possible too. Impacts to travel are expected; outdoor activities may suffer, too," said WFSB 3 TV meteorologists.

"The front passes through tomorrow night. On the backside, showers develop and move through early Tuesday morning before exiting. The afternoon will be much drier, breezier and noticeably cooler! We’re expecting unseasonably cool weather -- highs may stay in the lower half of the 70s. Temperatures keep tumbling, falling into the 50s overnight. The remainder of the workweek looks dry and pleasant with highs in the upper 70s to near 80 and lows in the 50s. Great time to give the AC a break!" (Read/watch more at WFSB 3 TV).

Tim Jensen/Patch

Current list of major closed roads across Connecticut as of 2:15 p.m. Monday

THOMPSON - Road Work on I-395 Southbound between Exits 53 and 50 (3.4 miles) in effect today until 3:42 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 7:43 am.

LISBON - Road Work on I-395 Northbound between Exits 19 and 32 (12.8 miles) in effect today until 4:20 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 9:20 am.

MERIDEN - Road Work on I-691 Eastbound between Exits 2A and 1A (1.3 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:46 pm.

HARTFORD - Road Work on I-84 Westbound between Exits 48 and 47 (0.5 miles) in effect today until 3:42 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 12:42 pm.

SOUTHBURY - I-84 Eastbound Exit 15 OFFRAMP CLOSED because of Emergency Road Work. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:57 pm.

SOUTHBURY - I-84 Westbound Exit 15 OFFRAMP CLOSED because of Emergency Road Work. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 3:00 pm.

WESTPORT - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 18 and 14 (5.7 miles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 7:21 am.

STAMFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 8 and 6 (1.9 miles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 7:37 am.

GUILFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 59 and 57 (1.9 miles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:08 pm.

BRANFORD - Delays. I-95 Southbound is congested between Exits 56 and 54 (3.3 miles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:09 pm.

ROCKY HILL - Rocky Hill Ferry CLOSED due to mechanical issues. Reported Monday, August 19 at 2:00 am.

SOUTHBURY - Route 172 CLOSED at Spruce Brook Road because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 1:59 pm.

SOUTHBURY - RT 67 CLOSED from Route 172 to Main Street South because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 2:11 pm.

WOODBURY - RT 6 CLOSED @ WOODBURY PL BECAUSE OF FLOODING & WASHOUT Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:28 pm.

BETHEL - Route 6 CLOSED between I-84 and Old Hawleyville Road because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 4:43 pm.

OXFORD - Route 34 CLOSED at Loughlin Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:05 pm.

OXFORD - Route 188 CLOSED between Hulls Hill Rd & Edmonds Rd because of a mudslide. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 5:46 pm.

RIDGEFIELD - Route 7 CLOSED between New Road & Route 102 because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:04 pm.

MONROE - Route 34 CLOSED between Route 111 & Coppermine Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 pm.

NEWTOWN - Route 6 CLOSED at Commerce Road because of a washout. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 6:45 pm.

SEYMOUR - Route 34 CLOSED at Jefferson Street because of a mudslide. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 7:10 pm.

BRIDGEWATER - Route 133 CLOSED at Wewaka Brook Road because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 7:26 pm.

ANSONIA - Franklin Street (Route 334) CLOSED at Wakelee Avenue because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 7:54 pm.

SOUTHBURY - Kettletown Road (SR 487) CLOSED between Route 67 & the Kettletown State Park because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 8:49 pm.

ANSONIA - Route 115 CLOSED at State Street because of a rock slide. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 9:05 pm.

SEYMOUR - Route 67 CLOSED underneath Route 8 at Exit 22 because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 10:25 pm.

SOUTHBURY - RT 67 CLOSED between Old Waterbury road and Community House road due to washouts, tree and pole down in roadway. Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:33 am.

NEWTOWN - RT 34 CLOSED between Holly road and RT 111 due to washouts. Reported Monday, August 19 at 4:20 am.

FRANKLIN - RT 32 CLOSED between Meeting House Hill road and Baltic road due to pole and wires down in roadway.. Reported Monday, August 19 at 4:57 am.

OXFORD - RT 67 CLOSED at Old State road due to flooding. Reported Monday, August 19 at 7:54 am.

WOODSTOCK - RT 197 CLOSED between Prospect street and RT 169 due to tree down in wires.. Reported Monday, August 19 at 8:36 am.

VOLUNTOWN - Route 165 Beach Pond Road CLOSED between James Road and Route 138 Rockville Road because of Crash (1 Vehicle vs 2 Utility poles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 8:47 am.

MONROE - Route 34 CLOSED due to flooding and structure damage. Reported Monday, August 19 at 10:07 am.

OXFORD - RT 67 CLOSED between Park road and Great Hill road due to flooding and washouts.. Reported Monday, August 19 at 12:33 pm.

MILFORD - Delays. RT 15 Southbound is congested between Exits 54 and 52 (2.6 miles). Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:39 pm.

MERIDEN - Crash (Multi Vehicle) on RT 15 Northbound between Exits 67 and 68N. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 2:04 pm.

GLASTONBURY - Road Work on RT 2 Eastbound between Exits 9 and 10 (2.9 miles) in effect today until 3:39 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 1:39 pm.

TRUMBULL - Road Work on RT 25 Southbound between Exits 9 and 6 (2.5 miles) in effect today until 4:00 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 12:34 pm.

MIDDLEFIELD - Road Work on RT 66 Westbound between Exit 1 and END OF RT 66 WB (1.2 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 9:23 am.

NEW BRITAIN - Road Work on RT 72 Eastbound beyond Exit 1A & 1B CT-9 NB & CT-9 SB in effect today until 4:12 pm. Expect lane closures. Reported Monday, August 19 at 10:12 am.

WATERBURY - Road Work on RT 8 Northbound between Exits 33 and 35 (1.1 miles) in effect today until 3:30 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 8:57 am.

SEYMOUR - RT 8 Northbound Exit 21 OFFRAMP CLOSED because of flooding. Reported Sunday, August 18 at 10:28 pm.

NEW BRITAIN - Road Work on RT 9 Northbound between Exits 36 and 37 (0.4 miles) in effect today until 3:43 pm. The right lane is closed. Reported Monday, August 19 at 12:43 pm.