By: Richard L. Smith
In an extraordinary display of nature's force, New Jersey has grappled with record-setting floods that have submerged roads, trapped vehicles, and left some homes without electricity.
In parts of Bergen County like Hillsdale, officials reported 3 inches of rain that fell and flooded out some neighborhoods.
Across the state, emergency responders and rescue crews have been deployed, utilizing specialized equipment to save dozens of residents from the rising waters.
The severity of the situation was vividly illustrated in Teterboro, where firefighters rescued two individuals from a car engulfed by floodwaters at the intersection of North Street and Hollister Road.
Similarly, in Hillsdale, Bergen County, residents were saved from their flooded homes along Glendale Drive.
Newark's South Ward also witnessed some rescues, with the fire department's Zodiac boat navigating the swamped streets of Meeker Avenue and Empire Street—a notoriously flood-prone area—to aid trapped motorists.
Even the state's major highways were not spared; Interstate 280 in West Orange transformed into a virtual river, with drivers stranded in the eastbound lanes by high waters.
In Englewood, high water trucks and water task forces were essential as the roads and neighborhoods near East Palisades Avenue were overwhelmed.
As New Jersey braces for more rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie, which is expected to exacerbate conditions into the weekend, residents are waking to check their basements for water and begin the complicated cleanup process.
Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported thus far from the storms, a testament to the rapid response and preparedness of communities and emergency services statewide.
