Flooding To Be Reduced In Bergen With New $750K Grant: Congressman

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A $750,000 federal grant will help reduce chronic flooding in this Bergen County borough, according to officials.

Federal funds, secured specially for Rutherford, will go to improve the town's stormwater management capabilities to protect residents from effects of flooding, District Nine Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D), said at a press conference Wednesday.

"Heavy rain and extreme weather events are causing too many of our neighbors' lives to be swept away. Flooding has a massive impact on our communities — and it's not going away," Pascrell said.

"That is why I have fought relentlessly for more federal funds to reduce flooding in our communities," the congressman said.

The funds will cover the cost of repairing and reconstructing stormwater inlets and outlets to allow for more water to enter the storm water system, mitigating the backflow effect felt by residents, he continued.

A wake of destruction and flooding was left by Hurricanes Sandy, Irene and Ida in the past several years, though "sadly," Pascrell said, it does not take a hurricane for that to happen in North Jersey.

Flooding along the Passaic River, and storm surges up the Hackensack and into the Meadowlands caused massive issues the region is still dealing with, he said.

"It was a titanic struggle to get the help we needed. We have tried a full court press to get people the help they need."

"My friends, it is always nice to play Ed McMahon for a day."