Month: August 2024

At least two people were found dead Monday in Connecticut, after over 100 were rescued after torrential rain brought extreme flooding to the western part of the state.Heavy rainfall in the Northeast has caused extensive flooding since Sunday, leading to the deaths and evacuations. Up to 10 inches of rain hit parts of Connecticut, resulting in what Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called “unsafe conditions,” who said a state of emergency was still in effect.

Connecticut State Police said in a news conference Monday morning that two women died after they were “swept away from their vehicles” in floodwaters on Sunday in Oxford, Connecticut. A news release stated that State Police had responded to Route 67 in Oxford around 5 p.m. Sunday on a report of two missing people amid intense flooding. The bodies of Ethelyn Joiner, 65, and Audrey Rostkowski, 71, both of Oxford, were recovered Monday.

Flash flood warnings had been declared in Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield and Hartford counties in Connecticut Sunday evening, while Suffolk County in Long Island, New York also saw warnings into Monday morning. Roads across western Connecticut were severely damaged, including a significant road collapse near Stevenson Dam in Monroe, CT (about 12 miles north of Bridgeport).   The National Weather Service said that reports of “water rescues, several mudslides, numerous washed out roadways and bridges as well as swollen rivers” were ongoing from Central Fairfield County into Northern New Haven County.

Roughly 10 inches of rainwater fell in 12 hours near the area of Oxford and Southbury, Conn.  In Oxford – about 15 miles northwest of New Haven – emergency crews saved over a dozen people Sunday, with two women were swept away in the floodwaters Sunday.  Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said that two bodies believed to be the missing women were found Monday: “Last night the Connecticut State Police assisted with assets and in personnel in the rescue efforts to extract those who were stranded in Kettletown State Park as well as Jackson Cove on Lake Zoar. The only access to rescue was by boat. The efforts were successful and they were evacuated to a shelter in Southbury. Yesterday, it was reported that two women were swept away by floodwaters in the town of Oxford. Two individuals have been located today and it’s believed that the recoveries were of the individuals witnessed and reportedly swept away by floodwaters.”

The Danbury Fire Department said that multiple buildings were evacuated Sunday after city officials described a “mudslide situation” triggered by flooding. Emergency crews also evacuated 100 people from a housing complex for older people, and fire officials said at least 20 were rescued from flooded cars.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement: “It’s just a reminder that we have to hang together at a time like this, especially given the tragedy. Those two women just swept away. It’s just incredible, what happened there. “Do not ever attempt to drive through any flooded roads. A good number of roads in the western portion of the state are closed and are expected to remain closed for an extended period.” Real-time updates on road closures can be found at ctroads.org  When you see those yellow cones, stop. You may say, ‘Oh my gosh, look at that road, it looks like it’s OK to me, I don’t see that much water.’ There could be a culvert under there, water could be going under. That thing could go at any time. Please pay special attention there.”

Connecticut Deputy Commissioner of Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Brenda Bergeron said in a statement: “We are talking about rainfall, in some areas, in the 1,000-year level. So we’re talking anywhere from 25-year level, 100-year level, 500-year level, up to 1,000-year level. So it’s really historic, unprecedented flooding.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the state would seek federal funding to repair all the damage: “Who would’ve thought the Little River would turn into a gushing torrent of destruction, which is what happened. That Little River became big. It became a huge, gushing torrent of destruction. We will seek federal help. Be absolutely sure – we will seek federal aid. They’re entitled to it. These communities have suffered an otherwise irreparable cost and damage, and there are programs available.”

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A Georgia sheriff’s deputy was killed while responding to a domestic dispute in a home near the city of Hiram on Saturday night, in what police said was an ambush on officers by a suspect who took his own life. Hiram is about 30 miles west of Atlanta.

Deputy Brandon Cunningham, 30, and another deputy responded to a call shortly after 6 a.m. ET.   Major Ashley Henson of the Paulding County Sherriff’s Office said during a news briefing that upon arrival, a male suspect fired a “hail of bullets” at the deputies and other officers, striking Cunningham. Said Henson (according to CBS affiliate WNAF): “Unfortunately, it appears as if our deputies were ambushed .. This is something that has never happened in the history of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. We have never lost a deputy in the line of duty.”

Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge said that Cunningham died at a hospital from a gunshot wound, adding: “tonight, we’ve lost a hero .. it’s going to be a tough time for all of us and all of our guys. Deputy Brandon Cunningham has succumbed to a gunshot wound at the emergency room over here at Paulding. I ask that you please keep his family in your prayers, everybody — even if you’re not in this county, I ask that you pray for this family, both blood and blue. Everybody here is hurting, our whole staff is hurting.”

The suspect, who was not immediately identified, died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The woman who was involved in the domestic dispute had left but returned while police were at the scene. She also had been shot and was transported to an Atlanta-area hospital and listed in stable condition.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will oversee the investigation, Henson said, adding that it was not immediately clear if any of the officers returned fire in the community about 27 miles northwest of Atlanta.

WNAF reported that Cunningham started working for the sheriff’s department in 2020 and had been in the uniform patrol division for about two years. Henson said: “He was a great deputy, good young man. He was 30 years of age. Brandon leaves behind two children.”

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Extreme heat at the Pikes Peak Air Show at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport in Colorado Springs (about 81 miles south of Denver) on Saturday afternoon caused around 100 people to seek emergency treatment for heat-related illness, 10 of whom were hospitalized.

Colorado Springs Airport officials said that the majority of patients were treated by emergency personnel onsite at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow. The airshow’s website indicated tickets were sold out for both days of the event on Saturday and Sunday, featuring performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight exhibition team and displays of various types of modern and vintage aircraft.

In a social media post, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said 40 to 50 people were taken indoors to cool down as fire personnel monitored them. The conditions of the 10 people hospitalized were not confirmed. Colorado Springs Fire Department spokeswoman Ashley Franco said: “A lot of nausea, headache, just overheating in general, so really what we’re doing is we’re getting them into this building, we’re getting them into air conditioning, we’re giving them IV fluids, we’re taking their vitals, we’re seeing what every patient needs.” 

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal added that the “quick actions” of organizers and emergency officials prevented serious injuries at the event. Said Royal: “The Colorado Springs Fire Department works and prepares very closely with the airport and event organizers when large events are held. Today, like every day, we had a plan in place in the event we needed to activate it. All partners and resources at the airshow handled this incident swiftly and professionally. Their quick actions ensured people were taken care of and serious injuries were avoided. Tomorrow will be hot again and we ask everyone to please stay hydrated, be prepared for hot temperatures, and please stay safe.”

The National Weather Service in Pueblo, Colorado, had issued a heat advisory warning of anticipated temperatures between 93 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the area on Saturday afternoon, with the advisory remaining in effect for El Paso County and Pueblo County for Sunday between noon and 7 p.m., the weather service said.

A post on the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow’s social media advised attendees, “PLEASE remember to stay hydrated during this hot weather. There is a FREE water station at the center of the grounds near the medical station.”  The airshow’s website also noted: “We strongly recommend bringing hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Please plan on being exposed to direct sunlight for the duration of the event. You may also bring a small personal umbrella; however, no large umbrellas, tents, or canopies are allowed. You can pre-purchase tickets to the upgraded Canteen Experience, which is the only ticket option that comes with shade.”

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