Severe torrential downpours pummeled Rhode Island on Labor Day, causing sections of a major highway to shut down, at least one major building to collapse, and life-threatening flash flooding.
Gov. Dan. McKee pleaded with Rhode Islanders to stay home during the height of the flooding, and state Department of Transportation officials scrambled to alleviate storm drains and clear up cars that had been abandoned on major roadways after being submerged by the flooding. Rainfall is expected to continue Tuesday into Wednesday.
MAN PLUMMETS 70 FEET TO DEATH AFTER DRAWBRIDGE OPENS UNDER HIM
“It was not a blockage, it was simply that the rain came down at an intensity that exceeded its capacity to accept it,” state DOT Director Peter Alviti said, according to the Providence Journal.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths from the flooding, a Rhode Island DOT official told the Washington Examiner. However, a slew of cars and roadways incurred heavy damage from the flooding.
An estimated 10.83 inches of rain covered the state’s second-largest city of Cranston on Monday, per an estimate from the National Weather Service. The state’s capital of Providence was hit with an estimated 8.31 inches of rain, according to the estimate. Photos of the flooding swirled on social media.
My brother’s girlfriend lives in RI and just sent this to me. Reservoir Ave in Cranston, RI where flooding continues to be a major problem today. #flood #flooding #rain #RhodeIsland #riwx pic.twitter.com/yuAMjsfdUX
— Jacqueline Thomas (@JacquelineWMUR) September 5, 2022
? I never seen RI flood like this before pic.twitter.com/KfYlIxBiaZ
— SOUND (@itsavibe) September 5, 2022
Dramatic images from Rt95 in Providence, RI right now. At least 5 vehicles stuck in flood waters underneath the Eddy St overpass. People forced to climb up on the center divider to escape the water. The highway has been closed in both directions for at least an hour now. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/d7YRRAghIn
— Corey Welch (@CoreyWelch) September 5, 2022
Police are attempting to back vehicles up as much as possible as the flood waters appear to be rising on route 95 near Eddy St in Providence, RI. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/5zfjqqBiL0
— Corey Welch (@CoreyWelch) September 5, 2022
McKee estimated that roughly 4 inches of severe downpour descended upon Providence and other northern parts of the state in a very short period of time, causing excessive flooding, per the outlet.
Major roadways, such as Route 95 North and South at Thurbers Avenue, Plainfield Street at Atwood Street, and Hartford Avenue/Heath Street, were covered in water on Monday, the Providence Journal reported. Parts of Route 95 were briefly closed.
The flooding got so intense that a building in Providence collapsed, though officials noted that no one was reported injured. The building was in the process of being converted into a strip mall and had been unoccupied, WJAR reported.
***Providence*** Dexter St at Waverly St – Building collapse. @ProvFirefighter & @ProvidenceRIPD @FopLodge3Prov on scene with a 1 story commercial structure. #BreakingNews @CoreyWelch @JohnnyVillella @RyanWelchPhotog @Andypaskowski @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/MKPjt5CxI7
— RayTheDroneGuy (@RayTheDroneGuy) September 5, 2022
A flood warning was issued for northern parts of the state, such as Cranston, Warwick, North Providence, and others, until 11 a.m. Tuesday, WPRI reported.
The intense flooding comes about a week before the state’s primary race, and hopefuls wasted no time using the flooding as a cudgel to swipe at their opponents.
“Today’s flooding is yet another failure of leadership by the McKee administration, one that has put the lives and property of Rhode Islanders in danger,” Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea tweeted. “What’s more, Governor McKee and his RIDOT director appear content to brush off their responsibility for making sure this keeps from happening in the future.”
Today’s flooding is yet another failure of leadership by the McKee administration, one that has put the lives and property of Rhode Islanders in danger.
— Nellie Gorbea (@NellieGorbea) September 6, 2022
Gorbea and McKee are locked in a heated primary for the Democratic nod to be Rhode Island’s next governor. The primary is slated to take place on Sept. 13.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Rhode Island was not the only state to face a deluge from a band of storms over the weekend. Parts of Georgia were hit, including the state’s northwest, with up to 12 inches of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
