By Ada Tieanworn ’26
Connecticut was thrust into a flood disaster on September 29 as a result of relentless rain over several consecutive days. The floods exacted a heavy toll across the state, with New Hartford and New Haven bearing the brunt of the consequences.
The heavy rainfall also flooded train tracks and grade crossings throughout the Bronx and the Lower Hudson Valley in New York City, suspending the Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line from Connecticut to Grand Central Terminal, run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), for several hours.
Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Spokesperson Mr. Josh Morgan explained that some of the heavy rainfall this year has resulted in culverts — structures underneath bridges that allow water to pass freely — washing away. “In Scotland, Connecticut, town-owned bridges were washed out last month due to heavy rains and flooding,” he said.
Apart from transportation, the flood also impacted many other pre-scheduled events in the state. On September 30, the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding disrupted the Sound on Sound music festival in Bridgeport, leading to a three-hour delay in its highly anticipated commencement. Additionally, due to the adverse weather conditions, four acts were removed from the festival’s lineup, disappointing both the festival’s organizers and the enthusiastic music fans.
Preemptive measures were put in place a day before the storm, including a flood warning for Fairfield County and flood watches for the neighboring New Haven and Litchfield counties. The MTA also announced on September 28: “MTA employees will be deployed throughout the operating region checking flood-prone locations, pre-staging equipment, keeping signals, switches, and third rails operating and attending to any weather-related challenges.”
The disruption of transportation networks inflicted hardship on commuters and laid bare the far-reaching repercussions of the flood. “The heavy rainfall has resulted in periodic road closures this year. When watercourses rise and top over the roadway, we need to close the road and then inspect for any potential damage when the water recedes,” Mr. Morgan said. CTDOT also shared a photo on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing the closed roads on Route 199 in the city of Washington.
To prepare for future storms and flooding events, CTDOT will continue to work on upgrading the state’s infrastructure. “For example, when we are doing a bridge project, we may make the opening under the bridge larger than the current conditions to allow for additional water flow or volume,” Mr. Morgan said.
