Hurricane Irene caused widespread flooding throughout the state especially along the coast. Here, a house is flooded in Guilford, CT. Powere to the neighborhood there was lost as well. (Submitted by Maggie Grozev, Guilford)
Hurricane Irene is now downgraded to a tropical storm as is picking up speed as it's making its way across Connecticut and into New England.
In a media briefing at noon on Sunday, Governor Malloy reported that over 700,000 people are without power as a result of the storm . Among the largest affected areas is Bridgeport, where a substation flooded and an additional number of customers might have to be affected while repairs are made.
Besides coastal flooding, the Housatonic, Connecticut and Farmington rivers are in various stages of flooding as well, reported Governor Malloy.
Governor Malloy mentioned that among the flooded houses and communities is also a farm in New Hartford and farm animals have drowned as a result.
One death in the state is blamed on the storm and two firefighters are reported injured, apparently of electric shock, one of them already released from the hospital while the second is in stable condition and is expected to be released later today, according to Govenor Malloy.
Governor Malloy also reported that the Merrit and Wilbur Cross Parkways are now offially opened but advising on staying away from the roads in the state, as extensive lane and street closures because of debree and flooding are in effect all over the state.
The truck ban on the interstate highway system in the state has also been lifted.
The MetroNorth system has suffered damage, according to the governor and he added that it is not currently known if service will be restored today.
According to AT&T is dealing with 2,000 poles and hundreds of cell towers that are damaged, noted Governor Malloy. He reminded that texting uses less bandwith and that people should be using it as an alternative.
35 municipalities have declared state of emergency and while rain may be over, the wind is likely to continue and strong gusts are expected on the tail end of this storm, said Governor Malloy.
The governor menioned that flooding in the state has not reached the levels of the 1992 perfect storm, but is extensive nonetheless.
Because of the path of the storm across Western Connecticut, the river system there is overwhelmed and additional flooding is expected, according to the governor.
High winds are expcted during the day with hurricane-strength gusts well into the afternoon and evening.
