Flash Flood in Hartford County, Connecticut

There was widespread, damaging flash flooding throughout Manchester. Fire officials evacuated 18 homes due to flash flooding. The Hartford Courant newspaper had a photo of a culvert collapse on Ambassador Drive, after Lydall Brook overflowed its banks. The culvert running under Ambassador Drive collapsed, destroying that secion of road. On Prospect Street, at least four first-floor condominiums at the Millbridge Hollow Condominium complex when the Hop Brook overflowed its banks. Floodwaters also entered the first floor of the Highland Park Elementary School when the Porter Brook overflowed its banks. At 356 PM EST, WFSB-TV showed a video of major flash flooding on Gerard Street, with first responders canoeing to the front door of a residence. Other streets with significant flooding included Lydall Street, Middle Turnpike East, and Route 83 near Vernon. A CoCoRaHS observer in Manchester recorded a total of 5.68 inches from Henri, the majority of which fell during the afternoon of August 22.

In East Hartford, Willow Brook went out of its banks, inundating parking lots and roadways at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Roads and buildings also were flooded elsewhere in town, including several homes.

Significant urban flash flooding occurred in Hartford. The Fire Dept. reported that Homestead Avenue was closed due to flash flooding. Cars were stuck, with water up to the roofs of the cars. Amateur radio operators reported that sections of Albany Avenue, Laurel Street, and Farmington Acenue were all closed due to flash flooding. On South Whitney Street at Warrenton Avenue, there was 3 feet of water at the intersection. There was basement flooding inside St. Francis Hospital. Rainfall totals ended up between 5.0 and 5.8 inches in northern Hartford and Tolland Counties.