Authorities reported on Tuesday that at least two individuals lost their lives in New Jersey due to flash floods that overwhelmed vehicles amid a storm affecting the northeast.
The fatalities occurred in Plainfield, a city in northern New Jersey. Officials noted that the swift waters from a nearby brook carried vehicles along, although the names of the deceased have not yet been disclosed.
In another incident, a home in the North Plainfield area also experienced flooding, prompting evacuations. Thankfully, no injuries were recorded in that case.
This incident adds to a previous tragic occurrence in Plainfield, where two people died during yet another severe storm on July 3rd.
New Mexico has faced its own disaster, with three fatalities reported as rapidly moving waters swept away parts of a mountain town.
“Everyone in Plainfield mourns this recent loss,” remarked Mayor Adrian O. Map. “It’s hard to process the loss of four lives so quickly. We are grieving for the families of those who passed and are actively working to enhance our emergency response system to better protect our residents in the future.”
Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey declared a state of emergency on Monday night as the heavy flash floods forced residents off the roads. He remarked that while such events are not unique to the area, New Jersey is currently experiencing periods of elevated temperatures and storm intensity. “Everyone needs to take caution,” he emphasized during a visit to assess the storm damage in Berkeley Heights.
Continuous heavy rain in New Jersey and Pennsylvania led to over six inches of rainfall between Monday night and Tuesday morning. This resulted in significant flooding, leaving numerous vehicles stranded and impeding road access. Emergency services conducted water rescues for those caught in the floods.
As a consequence of the severe weather, many flights at local airports faced delays or cancellations, with Newark Liberty International Airport alone seeing 159 cancellations, as reported by FlightAWARE.
In parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, the bulk of flash flood watches and warnings have recently expired as the rain subsided.
