Home » News » Heavy rains cause flooding in our area; Local Firefighters Perform Multiple Rescues – NBC New York

Heavy rains cause flooding in our area; Local Firefighters Perform Multiple Rescues – NBC New York

Torrential rain Thursday night caused flooding in northern New Jersey, leading to several rescues.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for multiple areas in the region Friday, including Hudson, Bergen, Morris, Essex, Passaic, Middlesex, Warren and Somerset counties in New Jersey, as well as Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan in New York.

Several cities, including River Edge, Milford and Lodi, remained under several inches of water nearly 12 hours after the rains stopped. Aerial views from Telemundo 47’s helicopter Friday morning captured hundreds of flooded vehicles throughout the region, in addition to countless homes and businesses.

Reports of several rescues came in early Friday as rising waters took unsuspecting New Jerseyans by surprise.

The Passaic River overflowed its banks at one point, flooding the area around the Bottagra restaurant on Wagaraw Road. About 300 people were inside at the time and had to be evacuated amid rising waters, Fire Chief Joe Speranza said.

Lifeguards helped restaurant patrons through the deep water after the restaurant closed.

Most river and stream flooding remained below flood stage, except for the Passaic River at Pine Brook. That waterway will continue to rise on Friday and remain in a minor flood stage through the weekend, which is not unusual.

In New Milford, Bergen County, where the Hackensack River swelled due to rains, residential roads are still under water and the local fire department maintains a boat for rescues in the neighborhood near where River Edge Avenue meets Columbia Street.

The New Milford Fire Department with the help of the River Edge Fire Department managed to rescue about 14 people from their homes on Columbia St and Harvard St at the intersection of River Edge Ave in New Milford.

NJ Transit bus service on routes 155, 157, 158, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168 and 177 has been delayed until further notice.

On Harvard Street in New Milford, debris was seen on the street and cars were under water.

River levels remain high in Bergen and Passaic counties. According to the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, the Saddle River in Lodi is in a major flood stage, with water levels just under 9 feet.

In New Milford, the Hackensack River was nearly 9 feet, constituting a moderate flood.

Road closures have also appeared as a result of the flooding. Although Passaic’s flooding was minor, Mayor Hector Lora said roads were barricaded on Main Avenue and Benson Avenue; Howard Avenue and Benson; Main Street and Benson; Main avenue and creek; and Passaic Avenue and Van Houten Avenue.

Elsewhere in Wagaraw in Hawthorne, firefighters made rescues with boats and ladders as high water levels wreaked havoc in the township. An alley between commercial buildings on the highway partially collapsed due to flooding.

Although the flooding stopped Friday morning, nearby water levels are still high. And with more rain in the forecast for Saturday morning, the situation is precarious.

The highest rainfall totals were concentrated in New Jersey’s Bergen and Passaic counties, as well as New York’s Westchester and Rockland counties. Ridgewood, New Jersey saw the most, with 3.67 inches of rain in just one day.

However, New York City’s Central Park saw less than an inch.

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