'Much too fast to walk through': Business owner rescued by boat from Norwich flooding

As hundreds of Norwich residents and businesses deal with mandatory evacuation, Keith Santor was one of the people rescued by emergency personnel.

Early Wednesday morning, Santor, the owner of Busy Bees' Play Hive on New London Turnpike, was told by his landlord to check in on his business. There was a foot of water when he arrived, and the water eventually rose to three feet.

The two of them were trying to pump water out of the neighboring Domino's Pizza. Eventually, they got stuck in the Domino's. While they were thinking about either trying to walk out or waiting for the water to go away, a neighbor called the Yantic Volunteer Fire Department to rescue them by boat, he said.

Even though he didn't feel he was in danger, Santor appreciates the work of the Yantic Volunteer Fire Department and other emergency responders helping out during the flood.

"We would have not been able to walk across the parking lot through the water," he said. "You could feel the current and it was much too fast to walk through."

Live Coverage Wednesday: Mandatory evacuations issued for Norwich neighborhoods due to compromised dam

Busy Bees' is expected to close for a week or two at least. The flood water was dirty and had caused the flooring to float. Busy Bees' also needs to clean the playground and figure out which toys are salvageable or not, Santor said.

A reply to a message on the business's Facebook reads, "Thank you all so much, this is heart breaking. We will reach out to everyone tomorrow regarding this weekend."

Mandatory evacuations and shelter set up

A mandatory evacuation has been issued in Norwich for all areas along the Yantic River from the Bozrah town line to the area of Uncas Falls due to dam conditions, and the National Weather Service has pushed the Flash Flood Watch until 6:45 p.m.

"Dam failure may result in flash flooding of low-lying areas below the dam. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain," according to the National Weather Service statement.

Resident evacuating from the Yantic River area may be displaced from their residences and businesses for several days, according to the Jan. 10 Declaration of Local Emergency & Evacuation Order from the City of Norwich.

Kelly Middle School at 25 Mahan Drive will be open as a shelter. The Red Cross is at the shelter, and can manage hundreds of residents, according to the city's evocation order.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Keith Santor shares rescue from Domino's Pizza amid Norwich flooding