Heavy rainfalls in the Northeast lead to floodwaters sweeping away a vehicle, resulting in two fatalities in New Jersey.
In the northeastern United States, severe flash flooding has hit New Jersey and Pennsylvania, resulting in fatalities, infrastructure strain, and widespread disruptions. The storm, which has been linked to an increase in extreme rainfall due to human-induced climate change, has tested the region's emergency response capabilities.
In New Jersey, at least two lives have been lost due to flash flooding. A car was swept away by floodwaters near the overflowing Cedar Brook river in Plainfield, New Jersey, leading to the tragic deaths of the two individuals. Areas including Union County, Bergen County, and cities like Newark have experienced life-threatening flash floods and roadways submerged by floodwaters.
Pennsylvania, particularly southern areas such as Lancaster County, has also reported widespread flash flooding linked to heavy rains earlier in the week. The city of Plainfield has been particularly affected, with a flooded neighbourhood experiencing a house fire and collapse, although thankfully, the family was not home at the time. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
The heavy rains have also put a strain on the infrastructure in both states. In New Jersey, the sewer system has been overwhelmed, leading to backups into the subway tunnels and stations. In New York, the city's sewer system struggled to handle the intense rain, leading to flooding in subway stations.
Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in New Jersey and urged residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. New Jersey has been under ongoing flood warnings, with these warnings extended through Tuesday morning in some areas as conditions remain hazardous and officials advise continued caution.
In Pennsylvania, the White House has reached out to the governor's office to assess the damage in several counties, following the widespread flash flooding. The storm has caused commuter train disruptions, road closures, and localized flooding, including subway inundations in nearby New York.
The flooding threat remains active as additional storms and heavy rainfall are expected to continue affecting the Northeast through midweek. Residents in both states are advised to remain vigilant and follow official guidance due to ongoing flood watches and warnings.
This latest bout of severe flooding is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather amplified by human-induced climate change, which is causing heavier and more frequent precipitation events that overwhelm existing infrastructure in the Northeast. The region has a history of flooding incidents, with summer thunderstorms and the remains of hurricanes repeatedly flooding parts of the subway system. The remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused more than a dozen deaths in New York City and renewed attention to resiliency proposals.
In an effort to combat future flood incidents, extensive subway repairs and flood-fighting measures were implemented after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. This included the installation or installation of storm barriers, seals beneath subway air vents, and raised curbs for subway entrances and vents.
Despite these efforts, the region continues to face challenges in managing extreme weather events. Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala compared the amount of rain in the storm to a two-liter bottle being put into a one-liter bottle, implying excessive rainfall.
In addition to the flooding, the storm has caused travel disruptions. A major east-to-west highway in New Jersey was closed for emergency repairs, and dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at area airports on Tuesday.
Full service was restored to the New York subway and commuter rails after hundreds of people worked overnight to restore operations. However, the impacts of the storm are expected to be felt for days, as clean-up and recovery efforts continue.
[1] National Weather Service [2] Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency [3] New York City Emergency Management [4] New Jersey Office of Emergency Management [5] White House Press Briefing
- In the midst of the general news about the severe flash flooding in the northeastern United States, the National Weather Service is urging citizens to stay informed about the ongoing weather conditions, as additional storms and heavy rainfall are expected to persist until the middle of the week.
- As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the flash flooding, the White House has reached out to the emergency management agencies in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey for updates on the damage caused by the heavy rains, especially in areas like Lancaster County, where floodwaters have inundated subway systems and disrupted commuter trains.