On Sunday, August 18th, exceptionally heavy rains hit the southwestern part of Connecticut, with some areas receiving up to 12 inches of rainfall. As a result, the National Weather Service (NWS) declared a flash flood emergency.
The most affected regions were Fairfield and New Haven counties, where the Emergency Management Office reported landslides, destroyed roads and bridges, overflowing rivers, and even a major gas leak. The state of the dams in the area was also being assessed.
In the town of Southbury, the Pomperaug River rose 3.5 feet above flood level. Roads, vehicles, homes, and businesses were damaged during the storm, with 15 roads in the town completely closed due to flooding. A mass power outage also occurred.
"It felt like the end of the world," said a Southbury resident. "All you could hear was water and collapsing buildings."
A state of emergency was declared in the town.
The town of Oxford was also severely affected. Here, 13.5 inches of rain fell on Sunday, leading to a historically unprecedented flood. According to Brenda Bergeron, Deputy Commissioner of the State Emergency Management and Homeland Security Office, some areas in the town received rainfall that only happens once in a thousand years.
Around 50 tourists were stranded in Kettletown State Park as water washed away footbridges and vehicle bridges leading to the campsite.
Nineteen people were trapped by raging waters at the Brookside Inn hotel in Oxford. There were fears that the building might be swept away. Fortunately, they, along with a woman and her dog from a neighboring house, were evacuated in time.
On Sunday afternoon in Oxford, a woman was swept away by water while firefighters were attempting to rescue her. She was later found dead. A second victim was in a car that was also swept away by the strong currents. Both were later found dead.
On Sunday evening, residents of the town were strongly advised to stay home until the floodwaters recede and to avoid driving on flooded roads at all costs.
In Monroe, Connecticut, 9.98 inches of rainfall was recorded—a rare event that happens once in 200 years in the town.
At Waterview, an event and exhibition center, guests had to be urgently evacuated due to flooding from Lake Zoar eroding the ground behind the building. This area was declared a disaster zone.
Similar catastrophic events are occurring worldwide, linked to the rising temperatures on the planet: a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, causing intense downpours and powerful winds.
The good news is that scientists have developed technologies to rapidly reduce moisture in the atmosphere. Their application can significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of destructive disasters, giving humanity more time to find a solution to stop the impending global climate catastrophe.
For more information, watch the video: "Water From Air: The Path to Saving Humanity | Popular Science Film."