WATERBURY, Conn. — Tuesday will mark 70 years since one of the worst natural disasters in Connecticut's history.

During the flood of 1955, more than 80 people died across the state, including 29 in Waterbury.

Waterbury veteran Nicholas Coscia served in the National Guard during the flood on Aug. 19, 1955. On Monday, he recounted what it was like to be in the middle of recovery efforts.

Archival photos and videos of that horrific day remain at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury. Coscia identified a house that he remembered had a little boy inside.

"That was one of the first bodies. I was going to jump in, but then I wouldn't have been here,” Coscia recalled.

That's when he knew he had to help and do more for his community.

"My mother started crying, she comes down and she almost trie

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