1,000 Evacuated As Raritan River Floods New Brunswick, Piscataway

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The city of New Brunswick and surrounding towns like Piscataway experienced historic flooding Thursday, as the Raritan River rose over its banks and flooded Rt. 18, a major artery in and out of the city.

More than 1,000 New Brunswick city residents were evacuated, and 164 people and 24 pets were housed in emergency shelter facilities Thursday night.

While most of New Jersey experienced the worst of Tropical Storm Ida's damage Wednesday night, for those who live along the Raritan River, the nightmare started Thursday morning as the river flooded due to the 8 to 8.4 inches of rain that fell on the area.

Also, the Raritan has not yet crested, warned Piscataway Twp. spokesman Gene Wilk. It is scheduled to hit its peak after 5:30 p.m. so the water will continue to get higher Thursday afternoon.

"The Raritan River is continuing to rise steadily and will do so over the next few hours. High tide is expected at 5:37 p.m. this afternoon," said the city of New Brunswick in a statement.

In New Brunswick, people were seen standing on top of flooded cars and riding bikes through neck-deep murky brown flood water as of 3 p.m. Thursday.

New Brunswick police also rescued 50 stranded motorists from cars trapped in floodwater.

Dozens of Piscataway residents had to be rescued from their homes Thursday morning. Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler pleaded with residents not to "ride it out" and call 911 for help; police were seen in small boats ferrying people out of condos and apartment buildings in boats.

Wahler also urged people not to walk through flood water as there were live electric wires in the water in some places.

There have been no fatalities in Piscataway/New Brunswick yet due to the flooding, but an Edison man, 31, drowned in South Plainfield Wednesday night: He and another man were swept into a 36-inch storm sewer pipe. Police were helping drivers in the area of Hadley and Stelton Road when they heard cries for help. One of the men was rescued, while the other could not be located. On Thursday, authorities discovered his body in a wooded area behind 1380 Centennial Avenue in Piscataway. Read that story on the Edison Patch.

New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill said many residents have been evacuated due to the flood conditions, and with the rising tide, there is the possibility that more evacuations may be necessary.

Families are currently sheltering at Lord Stirling School, and New Brunswick expects to open more shelter locations. Quite a few families are sheltering at the YMCA at the Piscataway Community Center, said Wilk.

There are road closures throughout New Brunswick and traffic in many areas is in gridlock. Cahill is telling people to avoid driving into New Brunswick if they can.

Middlesex County also declared a state of emergency. Thursday was the first day of class for Rutgers students, but all classes have been moved online due to the flooding.

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