Flooding closes streets in New Haven area; creates manhole ‘geyser’ But water receded quickly after flooding mess

NEW HAVEN >> Cars and pedestrians were stranded by flooded streets, water streamed out of overflowing manholes and at least one large tree was knocked down when downpours hit the city Friday.

Most of the floodwaters had receded from streets by 2:30 p.m. and the sun came out.

WTHN News 8 meteorologist Justin Goldstein said the storm, which started Friday morning, worked its way northeast toward Tolland County. A flash-flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service at 1:30 p.m., expiring at 3:30 p.m., after the storm had already passed the area.

Slideshow: Flooding causes havoc in New Haven

No injuries were reported.

The state Department of Transportation said the Route 34 eastbound ramp to northbound Interstate 95 was closed because of the rain. Cars could be seen turning around on Route 34 to get off the ramp.

Also, flooding on I-95 was reported on the southbound side between exits 46 and 45.

The area around Church Street South and Union Avenue also was flooded, with up to a foot of water in some areas.

James Hilton Jr. finds a unique route around the deep floodwaters along Humphrey Street in New Haven after the torrential downpour Friday afternoon. Hilton had to get to work, and said “there was no other way.” (Peter Casolino — New Haven Register) less James Hilton Jr. finds a unique route around the deep floodwaters along Humphrey Street in New Haven after the torrential downpour Friday afternoon. Hilton had to get to work, and said “there was no ... more Photo: Journal Register Co. Photo: Journal Register Co. Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Flooding closes streets in New Haven area; creates manhole ‘geyser’ 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

A tree was uprooted near 32 Whitney Ave., blocking the street in that area. The tree just missed hitting a car and didn’t cause any damage.

Rich Fontana, deputy director of operations for the city’s Emergency Operations Center, said major flooding was reported on Long Wharf Drive near the Ikea store and Lombard Street by the bridge in Fair Haven.

Flooding also was reported in Milford and West Haven in low-lying areas.

New Haven police said there was flooding near the department’s headquarters, but it wasn’t affecting the ability of officers to respond to calls.

Residents of that area said the flooding inhibited their ability to commute to work.

“It was crazy out here,” said Tamika Ford, a resident of the Church Street South complex. “Couldn’t go nowhere.”

Another Church Street South resident said he saw a manhole cover shoot up about eight feet in the air before slamming back on the ground.

“It was like a geyser or something, it shot up like that,” Joseph Kramer said.

He said after the manhole cover came off, all of Meadow Street flooded. The smell of sewage could be noticed for up to a block away.

Commuters heading to Union Station were drenched by the rain, but train service was not affected. Taxi cabs and cars struggled to navigate through the water, and several had to be towed.

Yale-New Haven Hospital spokesman Mark D’Antonio said extensive checks with their security and emergency medicine departments on both the York Street and St. Raphael campuses as well as staff found all reported “operations here are normal and uninterrupted despite the heavy rainfall within the past hour.

“Any flooding that has occurred on the streets has not impacted our ability to care for patients at either location,” he said.

The weather service said in the flood warning that rain of 1 to 2 inches per hour was forecast, with some areas already seeing an inch or more of rain by the time the alert was issued at about 1:30 p.m. The flooding came during high tide, the weather service said.

“Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams ... highways and underpasses,” the weather service said, adding that low-lying areas are subject to flooding.

Goldstein reminded drivers not to drive into areas where the water covers the roadway.

“Don’t drive through floodwaters, you never know how deep it is,” he said. “It could be a sink hole below it and what is looking like two or three inches of water could be two feet.”

Goldstein said floodwater in New Haven may be very dangerous and should be navigated carefully.

“For weather-related phenomenon, the largest killer in the country is floodwaters,” he said.

The rains should dissipate by Saturday morning, Goldstein said. By mid-morning, the clouds should clear and the humidity will begin to reduce and continue throughout the day.