Storm update: Two deaths reported in Central Jersey after torrential rain, flooding

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6 days ago

Heavy rain in Central Jersey from a July 14 storm killed two people in Union County and brought flashed flooding that left local streets and highways impassable and motorists stranded.
Two women died in Plainfield when a vehicle was swept into Cedar Brook during the height of the storm, according to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp. Emergency personnel responded quickly, but both people died at the scene. Mapp said the women's names are being withheld pending notification of their families.
'All of Plainfield grieves this latest loss. To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable," said Mapp, referring to the two men who died after a tree fell on their vehicle during the July 3 storm. "We mourn with the families, and we remain committed to doing all we can to strengthen our emergency response systems and protect our residents from future harm.'
One Parkview Avenue home in North Plainfield was destroyed after an explosion late Monday night at the same time there was flash flooding in the area. Gov. Phil Murphy said the cause of the explosion is under investigation, and no one was hurt in the blast.
The explosion as well as water rescues occurred at a time when some areas of Somerset County, like Watchung and North Plainfield, received more than 5 inches of rain in about four hours, while Hillsborough received about 3 and parts of Union County, like Linden and Clark, received more than 5 inches of rain.
The heavy rain resulted in reports of foundation damage and buildings in danger of collapse in North Plainfield and Dunellen.
Route 22 and Route 28 were closed in both directions to clear debris and make emergency roadway repairs caused by flooding in Somerset and Middlesex counties. Motorists are advised to avoid both roads.
Gov. Phil Murphy declared a State of Emergency for all 21 counties due to flooding caused by torrential rains and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
During a Tuesday news conference in Berkeley Heights, Murphy said New Jersey is seeing more frequent and more intense storms. He said Berkeley Heights experienced 6 inches of rain in less than two hours and more similar weather is likely.
"This clearly was a significant weather event," said Murphy, adding water has killed more people during his time as governor than any other type of weather event, including power outages, tornadoes and snow storms.
"We have not experienced anything like this in decades," said Mapp, who reported cars in the city were stranded in flood waters, while homes and businesses took on water in basements after flood waters rose two to three feet.
More: See rainfall totals in your Central Jersey town
Route 22 closed
Route 22 was closed in both directions between Washington Avenue in Green Brook and Terrill Road in Watchung. There is severe damage in four locations on Route 22, including sections where the roadway has buckled and heaved, median barrier has been dislodged and washed into travel lanes, and debris is covering the highway. Abandoned cars that were caught in the flood waters need to be removed.Route 22 eastbound was closed near Washington Avenue at approximately 9 p.m. July 14 due to roadway damage near Jefferson Avenue (mile post 42.5) in Green Brook caused by flooding. As flood waters receded, three other locations were identified with significant damage:
Mile post 43.5 west of West End Avenue/Cardinal Lane in North Plainfield
Mile post 44.7 at Somerset Street in North Plainfield
Mile post 46.5 west of Terrill Road in Watchung
Crews were on scene and working to clear debris and make repairs to the damaged roadway. It is unclear how long repairs may take. Motorists should avoid using Route 22 in this area.
Bridgewater police report Route 22 west at Thompson Avenue reopened around noon July 15.
Route 28 closed
Route 28 is closed in both directions between Mountain Avenue (mile post 2.86) in Bridgewater, Somerset County and Warrenville Road (mile post 11.36) in Dunellen due to damage from flooding. Motorists should avoid using Route 28 in this area.
Route 28 has reopened in all directions in Middlesex Borough, according to police who reported other roads still remain closed.
More than seven inches of rain fell over a two hour period in South Plainfield, resulting in numerous calls and 50 plus water rescues all over the Borough, according to a post on the South Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department's Facebook page.
New Market Avenue and Clinton Avenue Extension are closed, according to South Plainfield Business Administrator Glenn Cullen.
He said police made about 50 water rescues for people stranded in vehicles. Those rescued on the northside of the borough were brought to the rescue squad building on Plainfield Avenue while those rescued on the southside were brought to the Holiday Inn on Stelton Road.
Borough Hall and the library operated July 15 on a two-hour delayed opening. The municipal building is operating on generator power. The community pool had large amounts of silt and dirt that the flood waters brought down from West Crescent Parkway and will likely need a week to be operational again. Legends camp is open, but all other camp activities at the schools are closed.
Hope 4 Paws Humane Society, the former Plainfield Area Humane Society on Rock Avenue, Plainfield reported on Facebook they lost everything in the storm, including food, bedding, litter and other supplies. All of the animals, who were found sitting in the dark with water filling their cages, are safe after being moved to higher ground.
Linden police reported first responders assisted a number of drivers to safety after their vehicles were disables in the flood waters, and firefighters made nearly a dozen more boat rescues. After the rain stopped, Fire Department personnel also pumped out nearly two dozen residential basements.
All Linden roadways were reopened, and most abandoned vehicles have been moved to the side of the road. There were a couple of transformer issues overnight, but there are currently no widespread power outages in the city. Linden Public Works is working to clear the streets and catch basins of debris, especially in flooded areas, police said in a Facebook post.
The American Red Cross is in Dunellen supporting the Offices of the Mayor, Borough Administration and the Dunellen Office of Emergency Management.
Their team has set up a tent in the back parking lot of the George W. Hodulik Firehouse, 231 S. Madison Ave., to provide cleanup kits and water to residents at no cost. The Red Cross will be on site until 7 p.m. July 15 and from 9 a.m. to noon July 16, 17 and 18.
The team will load all supplies into residents' vehicles upon pickup.From 5 to 7 p.m. July 15, the Red Cross will be offering a free, light meal at the firehouse to Dunellen residents who are without power to assist with their needs. Throughout the next few days, American Red Cross teams will also visit areas throughout the Borough affected by the storm to provide aid to residents.
If you are in need of immediate assistance, call 1 (800) REDCROSS or 1 [phone].
Email: [e-mail]
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ storm update: Two deaths reported in Central Jersey after flooding