Emergency crews rescued 69 people from vehicles overtaken by flash flooding in Jersey City on Thursday as powerful storms swept across the region, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous road conditions.
The rescues unfolded after intense rainfall quickly flooded streets across parts of Jersey City on Thursday, Aug. 20.
According to Mayor James Solomon, 69 people were rescued from vehicles caught in floodwaters. First responders moved through roads covered by knee-high water and used small inflatable boats to reach stranded drivers and passengers.
Images provided by the City of Jersey City show emergency crews working in flooded streets as vehicles remained surrounded by water.
The flooding came during a broader round of severe weather that affected much of the Northeast. Heavy rain and strong winds caused flooding in New York City, while a likely tornado caused damage in Dover, Delaware. On Long Island, a powerful storm also damaged a beach club in Atlantic Beach.
In Jersey City, however, the focus was on getting people safely out of their cars as water rose rapidly.
No serious injuries were reported in connection with the Jersey City rescues in the initial Associated Press report.
In Newark, multiple drivers were rescued by raft after their vehicles became stranded in floodwaters, according to video captured by Dakota Santiago and distributed by FreedomNewsTV.
The incident is another reminder of how quickly flash flooding can become dangerous in densely developed areas, where streets can fill with water in a matter of minutes during intense summer storms.
Officials continue to urge residents not to drive through flooded roads, even when the water appears shallow.
Source: Associated Press, City of Jersey City/X; Video: Dakota Santiago / FreedomNewsTV
By NJ RADAR Team