Crews rescue people stuck inside a Domino’s during severe flooding

NORWICH, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) – People stuck inside a flooded Domino’s in Connecticut had to be rescued by emergency crews as water rolled in on Wednesday morning.

The cities of Norwich and Bozrah issued a mandatory evacuation following a partial dam break on the Yantic River.

When the flooding started around 6 a.m., Keith Santos was helping the Domino’s owner, Mark, get his items to safety.

Santos and his wife own the business next to Domino’s.

While they were helping the neighboring pizza business, water levels rose so high inside the store that they couldn’t get out.

“We were putting a lot of things up on shelves, trying to pick it up and get it off the floor,” Santos said. “There came that point where we’re looking at the water outside, we’re looking at it, we can’t open the door anymore. At that point, we knew we’re committed. We’re here.”

Fortunately, they were able to call for help.

“At that point, Mark was on the counter, I was on the table. We were singing Sweet Home Alabama. There was nothing else to do,” Santos said.

Passerby Scott Dorsey happened to capture video of boat rescuers approaching the Domino’s and pulling the men to safety.

They made it out OK, but Santos said his new business that was just gaining momentum is now on hold.

“I have no idea how much work it’s really going to be to go in there and bring that back up from this. I don’t know the extent, and I don’t know where to start,” Santos said. “We’ve got to keep positive about it because it’s really the only thing that’s going to keep us through. If we get a negative attitude, it’s going to hold us back.”

State officials lifted the emergency evacuation order later that afternoon and said they would be on site monitoring the dam overnight.

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