Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency on Monday, August, 19, after devastating floods struck Oxford and other parts of the state on Sunday, August 18.
Lamont said “historic flooding” had “caused extensive damage” and the declaration would “help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond, including potential federal support.”
Two women were killed after being swept away by floodwaters in Oxford, where the flooding was worst, state police said during a press conference on Monday.
This footage from Mike Lindberg shows large debris floating by as deep, powerful floodwaters inundated properties and destroyed buildings in Oxford. Toward the end of the video, a person is seen clinging to a sign as waters rush around them. Lindberg was among a group of people who were stranded in a bar for several hours as floodwaters surrounded them, and is heard in the video commenting on the “insane” flooding.
The local volunteer firefighting company in Oxford said “major devastation” hit the town. “Buildings away, cars turned into boats, roads turned into sand,” the company wrote in a Facebook post. “Our crews have performed numerous rescues and [responded to] various other emergencies over the last 18 hours, and are still out handling calls,” they said. Credit: Mike Lindberg via Storyful
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