Concerns Rise With the Rivers

(WTNH) - After all of the rain stopped, and the sun started to come out after Irene's direct wrath ended, the worst of the storm had actually begun.  After dropping over 10" of rain in many places across the state, while Irene passed to the north, flooding concerns became a huge priority.  

Along the Connecticut River, massive amounts of rainwater began flowing southward and rivers and lakes started to rise.  At 10PM on August 28th, hours after the storm had passed and skies began clearing, in Middletown the Connecticut River recorded a level at 6.65 feet.  

By 10AM on August 29th, the river was approaching flood stage, and by 10PM that night, the river had flooded so badly, that many roads had became impassable.  It's an easily forgotten cause of death after a storm ends, and is the number one weather related cause of death in the United States.

The major flooding continued for days and eventually peaked when the river reached 15.5 feet during the morning of August 31st, making it the 11th highest recorded level on record. Major river flooding impacted towns along the river from Middletown down to Chester and Essex. Many roads near the river were flooded and localized evacuations were needed.

More deaths occur yearly by flash flooding than tornadoes, lightning, and wind combined, and over 50 percent of flood-related drownings are vehicle related.  Turn around, don't drown!