WESTPORT, Conn. — Flash flooding caused by heavy rain caused road closures, water rescues and problems with commuter trains in the tri-state area on Sunday. The National Weather Service said the hardest-hit areas appeared to be northern New Jersey, parts of New York’s Westchester County and a stretch of the Connecticut coast along Interstate 95. The service issued flash flood warnings across the region for much of Sunday morning as rain fell at a rate of 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters). an hour in some places. Metro-North and Amtrak said their rail lines to New Haven, which serve Norwalk, Bridgeport and other major Connecticut communities, were experiencing delays and cancellations due to flooding impacts. Tweed New Haven Airport also closed its departure terminal due to local flash flooding. Airport officials in a Facebook post said travelers with flights departing Sunday should not come until further notice. Meanwhile, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and other state officials urged drivers to avoid flooded roads and not attempt to drive through standing water. 10 centimeters) per hour. In Westport, emergency services carried out 13 rescues of people trapped in vehicles by flooding, according to the fire department. Photos and videos shared on social media showed downtown businesses flooded. “Even when the rain subsides, standing water and other hazards may persist,” the department warned on Facebook. “Residents should continue to avoid flooded roads, never go around barricades, and give emergency crews room to work.” In Bridgeport, the fire department said in a social media post that it responded to “call after call” on Sunday, including deploying boats “to rescue residents from flooded areas and bring them to safety.” Photos shared by the department showed residents being helped onto a boat from the front door of a home, with rescuers standing outside in knee-deep water. Heavy rains also forced multiple road closures and some water rescues in White Plains and other major communities in New York’s Westchester County. In New Jersey, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said emergency crews rescued about 20 people from rapidly rising floodwaters, including a woman who fell out of her wheelchair and ended up floating in the street. Sayegh said there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries from the deluge, even as video shared on social media showed parked cars submerged almost up to their windows on some roads. As the rains subsided and the skies cleared, Paterson’s annual Dominican Parade began Sunday afternoon, albeit with a slight delay.
