New Jersey communities again flooded with rain as strong storms move through
By Nick Caloway, Adi Guajardo
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NEW JERSEY (WCBS) — A Tornado Warning was issued in Sussex and Warren Counties in New Jersey Tuesday afternoon as officials prepared for another round of storms across the state.
The warning expired at 2:15, only to be followed by a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
Radar estimated rainfall totals in portions of Morris County were up to 6.4 inches at around 11 p.m. In Essex County, the same estimate found 4.7 inches of rain.
Video from Paterson showed several flooded, stalled cars and deep water.
“Remember, stay out of any flooding. Stay away from it. Don’t attempt to drive through it. Stay away from downed power lines. Charge your cell phones and devices to be ready for these storms,” N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said.
Two daycares had to be evacuated Tuesday on Lackawanna Avenue after rain overwhelmed the community.
Kiddie University Daycare owner Lori Martin was told children and staff needed to evacuate due to something in the water.
“We did take our last 11 kids and staff out with the trucks from town and to the municipal building until parents could come pick them up,” she said.
Martin said it smelled like gas and she had never smelled that before.
Residents nearby also were inundated with floodwaters as water went inside homes and cars.
“We did take our last 11 kids and staff out with the trucks from town and to the municipal building until parents could come pick them up,” said Eric Papieuk.
Mayor Tracy Kallert said roughly 60 people were evacuated across town.
“I’ve been here about 15 years through the council and the mayor’s office, and I’ve never had to evacuate the daycare centers,” she said.
On Monday night, heavy rain caused major flooding and downed power lines in Bergen County.
Cars were stuck in high water, with drivers needing to be rescued on Route 208 in Hawthorne. The same situation happened in Glen Rock when an SUV was submerged in deep water. Hackensack also looked similar, as commuters were surprised by the downpours and fast-rising waters.
“I think this was the worst storm that we’ve encountered in many, many years,” said Hawthorne Mayor John Lane. “We do get rain. We do flood a little bit. But the torrential rains, the way it came down for an hour, half an hour.”
Seventeen water rescues were conducted across the borough of Hawthorne. No one was injured, the mayor said.
“We tried to get around the area, could not get around the area at all. Every street you went to was blocked,” Hawthorne resident Tatiana Amador said.
The water seeped into the basement at Palmas Ice Cream.
“Every time a truck would cross by, it felt like a beach wave coming in. Every time a beach wave would come in, that’s when all the water would come in,” Rosa DeJesus said.
On Tuesday, Lane said that crews are ready to take on the wet weather set for the afternoon and overnight.
“We’re prepared. Our ambulances are prepared, our fire trucks are prepared,” he said.
Parts of the state, including Bergen County, are under a flood watch until 8 a.m. Wednesday.
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