I-95, other streets closed; More rain is expected
More rain is forecast Tuesday and Wednesday after torrential downpours flooded parts of Rhode Island, flooding streets and knocking down an uninhabited building.
A flood warning remains in effect for Rhode Island until 11 a.m. Tuesday as another 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible, according to the National Weather Service. After about 3 to 8 inches of rain, several streets and highways in and around Providence flooded as rain continued into Monday night.
Drivers were stuck in traffic for more than two hours along I-95 before the interstate reopened in both directions Monday. About 600 households reported power outages and an uninhabited building collapsed Monday in Providence, police said. No injuries.
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More rain
At Monday’s news conference, Governor Daniel McKee warned of more rain after more than 4 inches of rain fell on Providence and surrounding areas in a short period of time.
A steady stream of rain is forecast Tuesday through Wednesday.
“The single most important thing Rhode Islanders can do in any form of emergency is stay off the roads,” said McKee. “…I know it looks like the storm has slowed down but we are expecting another possible high tide.”
Infrastructure is overloaded
Peter Alviti, director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, blamed the highway closures on an overloaded drainage system.
“The rain was simply pouring in with an intensity beyond its tolerance,” Alviti said on Monday, adding that teams had taken precautions and checked for blockages in the drainage system in advance. storm.
Flood fears ‘reduced’ in Georgia
Flood concerns have “relieved” in Georgia, where downpours brought up to 12 inches of rain to some parts of the state over Labor Day weekend, according to reports. National Weather Service in Atlanta. Flooding knocked out water service to parts of Chattooga County on Monday, prompting rescuers to use water kayaks and prompting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency in the counties. Chattooga and Floyd on Monday.
The Chattooga County School System announced that schools will remain closed through Wednesday due to flooding.
Contribution: Associated Press.
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