Latest news with #UnionCounty
CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
N.J. residents cleaning up from flash flood remember long road back from Hurricane Ida
New Jersey faces a major cleanup effort after this week's flash floods. Residents in Union County are sorting through their damaged possessions, trying to salvage whatever they can. The piles of destroyed belongings continue to grow in North Plainfield, where many are cleaning up for the second time in less than four years after Hurricane Ida. Meanwhile, the community is still dealing with damage from deadly winds earlier in the month. The contents of Ana Lopez's entire living level and basement now line the curb in front of her Taft Avenue home. She was preparing dinner when the water started pouring in through the front door and garage. It filled the basement and rose 3 feet on the main floor. "Oh my God, it's so terrible. I feel my heart, I don't have words to explain," Lopez said, adding, "This is worse than the last time." Two days later, work to remediate her cherished home is well underway. Water-logged drywall has been removed, leaving the posts visible. Asked how she's feeling, Lopez replied, "I'm feeling happy, because I'm alive and my family is OK." Her 7-year-old daughter, Katalea, was by her side when the water rushed in. "My toys got dirty," she said. "I saved my bunny." Walking down Taft Avenue, pile after pile of ruined belongings can be seen. "It was a river flowing down the street, it was really bad," resident Lynnelle Thomas said. Thomas said this time around was worse for her, too. "The water level, the water damage," she said. "We've been through this, so we have flood insurance." Now, the flooding has become too frequent. "The idea of have to go through the process and try to replace it, it's going to take a little while," she said, adding. "It's a forced garage cleanup, but this is hard. It's hard, cold showers are hard." But she's doing it and smiling as often as she can.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
New Jersey flash flood blamed for at least 2 deaths as Gov. Phil Murphy says state was "crushed" by storms
New Jersey remains under a state of emergency Tuesday after Monday night's flash flooding devastated many communities, especially in Union and Somerset counties. Gov. Phil Murphy toured some of the damage Tuesday morning in Berkeley Heights. "Last night, we got crushed," Murphy said. Murphy spoke about two deaths in the city of Plainfield and about a home explosion in the borough of North Plainfield. "We're seeing more of this, more frequent and more intensity," he said. "Six inches of rain in under two and a half hours, in two waves -- one wave, knocked a lot of these communities a little bit off kilter; the second one just came in for the kill. So we're assessing around all these communities and counties." Several drivers had to be rescued when cars stalled Monday evening across the Garden State and in parts of New York. Route 22 eastbound remains closed for emergency repairs Tuesday in Somerset County. Murphy said he was in touch with the White House, and he warned more unsettled weather may be on the way. "We're in one of these patterns right now, hot and humid, late afternoon-early evening thunderstorms," he said. "It doesn't feel, as I stand here now, as though tonight, tomorrow, Thursday will be at the same level of intensity that we saw last night, but you never say never." N.J. flash flood blamed for at least 2 deaths in Plainfield Officials in Plainfield confirmed two people were killed when a vehicle was swept into Cedar Brook during the storm. Their names have not been released. "They were in a submerged automobile, and their remains were extracted at some point overnight or first thing this morning," Murphy said. Earlier this month, two other people in the city were killed when a fast-moving storm whipped through. That same system also killed a woman in North Plainfield. "All of Plainfield grieves this latest loss," Plainfield Mayor Adrian O'Mapp said in a statement. "To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable. We mourn with the families, and we remain committed to doing all we can to strengthen our emergency response systems and protect residents from future harms." House explodes in North Plainfield during storm It was a chaotic night across Union County. As first responders were busy with dozens of water rescues and shutting down roads, they received a report of a house explosion in North Plainfield. They arrived to find a home on Parkview Avenue in pieces. What was once a beautiful two story home is now just a pile of debris. The force of the explosion was so strong, pieces of wood ended up halfway down the block. One of the few structures still standing is the staircase leading up to what used to be the second floor. Firefighters said the home was engulfed in flames when they first arrived. After getting the fire under control, they did a thorough search and determined thankfully that the home was unoccupied. No injuries were reported to firefighters either. The firefighting effort was complicated by yesterday's torrential rains. First responders had to wade through ankle deep water as they dragged their hose lines. How the fire started is still under investigation.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
New Jersey flash flooding triggers dramatic rescues
Torrential rain and flash flooding led to dramatic rescues in New Jersey as Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency. Cars stalled and crews scrambled to shut down roads Monday in the Garden State while storms pummeled the Tri-State Area. Flash flood rescues in Scotch Plains Raging floodwaters raced through Scotch Plains, and much of Union County, stranding drivers who were trapped in their vehicles as the waters rose. In one rescue, crews used rope to pull a man out of his car through the raging floodwaters to safe ground. Authorities also launched boats into the flooded streets as the intense rainfall caused the Green Brook River in the Watchung Reserve to overflow. Many said it was some of the worst flooding they ever saw. "Maybe in like 15, 20 minutes it went from maybe just a little stream of water, and then it just started flooding over," a woman said. "Pretty scary." Rafts made their way through the streets, scooping up people with no way out and bringing them back to safety. Others were carried by a frontloader. "Because of the water, we couldn't go any further. So we had to get out and we tried to go up the road and we couldn't. So they told us just to stay there and they came and picked me up in a loader," another woman said. Other people whose cars were submerged had no way to get home, except by way of a giant truck that became a huge bus to carry them away. "I've never seen flooding like this" In Plainfield, the heavy rain turned streets into rivers that rushed past homes and knocked down trees. "I've never seen flooding like this," Michael Vargas said. Vargas said directions on his phone led him to a flooded street where he was trapped for more than an hour. "It was all the way up, all the way up here. So, just sat there. I'm sure the car, I mean there's nothing I can do. It's ruined. Time for a new car," he said. The tow truck driver who helped Vargas told CBS News New York it was a very busy night for business. Meanwhile, in the time of need, some jumped into action to help others. "It's what we do in Plainfield. Try to help a neighbor out along the way," Marc Williams said. In Roselle Park, rain flooded several businesses on Chestnut Street. "Probably about six inches to a foot inside the restaurant," Russell Olden, one of the owners of Dowling's Irish Pub & Restaurant, said. Olden said he rushed over as soon as he found out about the flooding. "It's not just my business. It's not just my employees. It's everybody down in this area. The water comes in, it comes in quick, and there's really no time to react to it," he said. As the water receded in some areas, the cleanup efforts were just beginning to get under way. "It's disheartening. It's not the best feeling in the world, but we're resilient, we're strong," Olden said. Olden said his restaurant last flooded during Hurricane Ida, so he knows exactly what the next steps are. He'll bring in professional help to assess the damage.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Plainfield mayor declares state of emergency after deadly storms
PLAINFIELD, N.J. (PIX11) – Thursday night's thunderstorms swept through multiple parts of New Jersey. Mayor Adrian Mapp declared a state of emergency, canceling all Fourth of July parades and fireworks to focus entirely on cleanup and recovery. More Local News Ferocious winds, gusting between 60 and 80 mph and ripped through Central New Jersey during Thursday night's storms. In Plainfield, more than 80 trees were knocked down; vehicles and homes were crushed. And unfortunately, lives were lost. 'The cops came, and they said that my brother was crushed by the tree,' said Gigi Neil. Her brother, 79-year-old Rocco Sanson, is among at least three people who were killed by trees falling on top of their vehicles. The two siblings had been living in their house together for 56 years. She told PIX11 News that Sanson had stepped out to get some groceries. 'Now I lost my brother and words can't be saying. Last night I went to bed, I left the lights on and he never came home,' added Neil. According to Plainfield Authorities, the other two fatal victims are 25-year-old Brian Ernesto Valladares and a 44-year-old woman from Middlesex. 'Lady died right down house down the road, on Greenbrook Road. She was trying to get out and a tree fell down on her car,' said resident Patrick Carotenuto. With more than 8,000 customers left in the dark in Union County, PSE&G worked around the clock to restore services. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State 'It was terrifying because they called me at work, I didn't know what to do or say because my daughter screaming,' said Harvenell Jackson. German Bano told PIX11 News in Spanish he is devastated and does not know how he is getting to work on Monday. His vehicle, which he purchased 10 months ago, was destroyed by a tree that fell right in the middle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Union County: Afton man charged with parole violation
Jul. 3—Beau E. Boswell, 28, of Afton, was taken into custody June 30 at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Department of Corrections warrant for the charge of violation of parole. According to a Department of Corrections report, Boswell violated the terms of his parole April 10, when he was arrested in Decatur County and charged with assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. Boswell was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond.
