Extensive flooding remained in some parts of New Jersey on Tuesday in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Passaic County in the northern part of the state and Mercer and Middlesex Counties in the central part were particularly hard-hit, with some streets under several feet of water.
Little Falls, Pompton Lakes and Wayne, all in Passaic County, are susceptible to flooding even in relatively minor storms because of their locations along four major rivers: the Passaic, the Pequannock, the Pompton and the Ramapo. As such, the local governments are well practiced in responding to floods, but the effects of Hurricane Irene were unusually severe, with record crests in some places. The Passaic River peaked at 14 feet, twice the height needed for a flood, according to The Record.
Cars were completely submerged and some houses flooded up to their roofs. Parts of Willowbrook Mall in Wayne were underwater, and the mall remained closed on Tuesday -- not that anyone could have gotten there through the flooded streets even if it had been open. Property damage, both to homes and to the furniture and valuables inside them, was catastrophic. Dave Anders, a longtime resident of Pompton Lakes, told CBS News that the flooding was the worst he had seen in 50 years.
Officials in several states have stepped up their post-Irene rescue efforts, mobilizing to airlift supplies into isolated areas cut off by raging, rain-soaked rivers and streams three days after the storm swept across the eastern portion of the nation.
From its landfall Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane to its dissolution into scattered rain storms in New England, Irene was blamed Tuesday for at least 42 deaths in a dozen states.
Millions of people remained without power, with many of them expected to lack electricity through the forthcoming holiday weekend despite feverish work by crews to repair downed power lines. The financial losses are expected to hit the tens of billions of dollars.
Joe wrote: Wow, a 1000 views on this thread too, amazing. Great job CG!
Joe, I appreciate the accolades ( I suspect it is more of a shot at VL however, LOL) but this was a great thread. Even though it is sad to see all this. I did not have the time to be as thorough as usual and there was some great info from lots other posters on here and took up the slack for me. This Vermont thing is really upsetting.
