On Sunday (September 13), heavy rain swept through the Tri-State area in the eastern United States, triggering widespread flash floods in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This led to the closure of multiple major roads, disruptions in commuter rail services, and temporary shutdowns of airport terminals. Emergency rescue teams were dispatched to help stranded individuals, with no reports of casualties so far.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the most severely affected areas are primarily concentrated in northern New Jersey, parts of Westchester County in New York, and the coastal areas along Interstate 95 in Connecticut.
Due to the flooding, Metro-North and Amtrak railways in Connecticut stated that train services passing through communities like Norwalk and Bridgeport on the way to New Haven were facing delays or cancellations.
Officials at airports in Connecticut took to Facebook to inform the public that Tweed New Haven Airport had closed its departure terminal due to severe local flooding. They advised against traveling to flooded areas and recommended waiting for further updates on departure times.
Several sections of Interstate 95 in Connecticut were heavily flooded, with deep water accumulation near Stamford and Westport causing the closure of multiple lanes. The northbound section of Route 15 in Fairfield County between exits 21 and 27 was also completely shut down.
The coastal areas of Connecticut were hit hardest by the flooding. Rainfall accumulation reached 6 to 7 inches (about 15 to 18 centimeters) from Norwalk to Westport on Sunday morning, with hourly rainfall peaking at around 3 to 4 inches (about 8 to 10 centimeters). The excessive rain overwhelmed drainage systems, rendering many roads impassable.
The Westport Fire Department reported carrying out 13 rescue missions, assisting trapped individuals in vehicles to safely exit. Images and photos circulated on social media showed downtown areas inundated with floodwaters.
The department reminded the public on Facebook to exercise caution even as the rain subsides, as standing water and other dangers may persist. They urged people to avoid flooded roads, not to bypass roadblocks, and to allow space for frontline emergency responders to carry out their operations.
In Port Chester, the fire department received numerous distress calls and dispatched rescue boats to flooded streets. Photos released by the fire department depicted water reaching up to the knees of rescue personnel as they tirelessly helped flood victims board rescue boats to transfer them to safety.
In New Jersey, many roads in Passaic and Bergen Counties were submerged. Footage from Paterson showed multiple vehicles stranded on 11th Avenue, with some almost completely submerged up to their windows.
Mayor Andre Sayegh of Paterson revealed that approximately 20 individuals, including a woman who fell from a wheelchair and was floating in the flooded street, were rescued by emergency responders from the swift floodwaters. Additionally, a Dominican parade scheduled for the area was postponed due to the flooding.
Despite videos circulating on social media showing cars parked on roads nearly submerged up to their windows, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities due to the flooding at present.
The heavy rain also caused road closures in White Plains, Port Chester, and other major towns in Westchester County, New York, with local emergency personnel conducting multiple water rescue operations.
Meteorological units indicated that as the rain weakened in the afternoon and skies cleared, the overall situation in the three states is expected to gradually improve. Nevertheless, officials continue to caution the public to stay away from flooded areas when going out, avoid attempting to drive through water as it can lead to vehicle breakdowns, and be aware of unpredictable dangers lurking in the water.