In a devastating turn of events, a single mother’s home in Oxford, Connecticut, was swept into a river and destroyed during a deadly storm that struck the area. The horrifying incident was captured on video, showing the two-story house crumbling and sliding into the swollen brook below after hours of heavy rainfall and severe flooding. The homeowner, Randi Marcucio, and her 3-year-old son narrowly escaped the disaster.
Video Captures Connecticut Home’s Collapse
Historic flash flooding in Oxford leveled this home on East Hill Road. Tonight only on @WTNH I spoke with the homeowner, a single mother of a 3-year-old boy, about losing everything.
Video Courtesy: Chris Hofmann pic.twitter.com/NkqRiRZoIF
— Brittany Schaefer (@BrittanyTVNews) August 20, 2024
The video footage, which has since gone viral, reveals the chilling moment when tables, chairs, and other belongings were thrown from the collapsing Connecticut house as it was engulfed by the surging waters. The roof of the home is seen collapsing as the structure slid down the embankment, ultimately coming to rest on the rocky bank of Fivemile Brook.
Marcucio, an ER nurse and single mother, had been living in the house for just over two years. She purchased the property on Mother’s Day in 2022, drawn to the beauty of the narrow brook that ran alongside it. On the day of the storm, she was preparing dinner when the brook began to rise rapidly, eventually turning the street into a raging river and eroding the hill beneath her home.
Destruction Unfolds Over Hours
Recalling the harrowing experience, Marcucio described how the flooding gradually consumed her property. “The river started to take the massive, tall, tall, tall deck pillars,” she said. “The deck started to go. The deck went. The oil tank detached from the house. Over hours, slowly but surely, everything just started to go.”
By the time the storm subsided, the entire house had been swept away. Thankfully, Marcucio and her son were not at home when the final collapse occurred. Marcucio had been out assisting her neighbors in finding shelter during the storm and spent the night at her parents’ house.
Community Rallies for Support
The loss of her home has been a devastating blow to Marcucio, who revealed that her insurance does not cover flood damage. Despite the enormity of her loss, Marcucio remains positive, finding strength in the support of her son and the kindness of strangers. “He’s such a smart, happy kid,” she said of her son. “He knows something’s wrong, but he’s happy to see mommy.”
In the aftermath of the disaster, the community has rallied around Marcucio and her son. Donations have poured in from neighbors, and a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family rebuild. “You want to die in one breath, and then the next breath you’re like, ‘This is everything. This is life,’” Marcucio reflected. “I didn’t lose my life. My son didn’t lose his life. We lost our stuff.”
Storm Claims Two Lives
The storm that destroyed Marcucio’s home was deadly, claiming the lives of two women just five miles north of her property. One of the victims was swept away while walking down the street during the storm.
As the community mourns the loss of life and begins to recover from the destruction, Marcucio is focusing on the future and the safety of her son. “How can I even begin to complain about anything?” she said, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support she has received.
