2 Women Dead in Connecticut After Being Swept Away by Floodwaters During Tri-State Area Storms

Mar. 15, 2025

Two women have been found dead after flash flooding consumed various portions of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

Nearly a foot of rain fell in some parts of the Tri-State area on Sunday, Aug. 18, as severe thunderstorms and tropical downpours moved through the area, according toNBC News.

The women have been identified as 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71-year-old Audrey Rostkowski, according to reports.

Floodwaters in Danbury, Conn., where at least one person has died following tropical downpours on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.Danbury Fire Department/Facebook

Danbury Fire Department/Facebook

A car stalled in floodwaters in Dabury, Conn., after tropical downpours on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.Danbury Fire Department/Facebook

“Both Oxford residents were found deceased after being swept away from their vehicles,” Connecticut State Police said in an update on Monday, Aug. 19, per theNew York Daily News.

NBC News reported that at least one other person died in the storms.

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In Danbury, Conn., about 20 rescues were made “when vehicles drove into flood waters and became stranded,” according tolocal fire officials.

Elsewhere in Danbury, about 100 units at the Glen Apartments complex were evacuated due to flooding, and eight units at a condominium complex were damaged after heavy rain triggered a large mudslide on Shelter Rock Road.

Floodwaters in Danbury, Conn,. after tropical downpours on Sunday. Aug. 18, 2024.Danbury Fire Department/Facebook

In Newark, N.J., heavy rain is blamed for causing the roof of a residential building to collapse, according toNews 12 New Jersey. Public safety director Fritz Fragé said 64 residents from 19 units were moved into hotel rooms following the incident.

Flooding in Connecticut after downpours impacted the area on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.Danbury Fire Department/Facebook

Rail traffic in New York and New Jersey was impacted as well. On Aug. 18, Amtrak temporarily suspended service between New York and Philadelphia as a result of flooding, according to NBC News.

On Monday, Aug. 18, the Metro-North Railroad suspended the Waterbury Branch service in both directions due to a mudslide near Seymour.

source: people.com