Flood waters force residents from homes

Woodbury, Conn. (WTNH) - Cresting rivers and rising flood waters are forcing many Connecticut residents out of their homes, including those living along the Pomperaug River.

The Pomperaug River is well over its banks. At one point it completely covered Route 317 and when it did it took quite a bit of the road with it. What the river left behind will probably have to be torn up anyway. The water washed away the ground underneath the pavement, so there's nothing supporting this part of Route 317 any more.

"Came down my road and the river was straight across the whole field. It was pretty cool," said Bill Hoffman of Woodbury.

The Pomperaug River almost washed away a car and its driver. The young woman didn't want to be on camera, but her mother tells News 8 that her daughter tried to drive through the floodwaters about 1 a.m., but the current washed her Chevy right into the woods. She was able to call police, and she is okay.

In New Milford, Dennis Cartolano took his truck through a couple feet of water to get to work, which happens to be right next to the Housatonic River.

"And then coming in here, seeing that water 3 feet deep over there it's like all right, I'm going to have a little fun and try to drive through that and the water was coming up over the hood," he said.

Flooding from the Housatonic washed over Route 7 and put a normally bustling business district underwater. Police also closed the bridge on Bridge Street.

"Because all the major points were blocked getting into here, I had to drive like 10 miles out of the way," Cartolano said.

There was a much bigger inconvenience for residents of one stretch of Grove Street. Heavy rain washed part of the hill down onto the road. The Fire Department evacuated everyone at the bottom of the hill just in case more mud slid down.