Over 100 Residents Evacuated As Swelling Rivers Threaten Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Tropical Depression Ida brought heavy rains which caused flooding across the county on Wednesday night. On Thursday, local officials tried to strike a balance of cleaning, repairing and taking stock of what these floods caused, while also preparing for more.

County Executive Jim Tedesco declared a local state of emergency in the county late Wednesday, and the National Weather Service issued a flood warning as rivers continued to swell and threaten to reach flood levels on Thursday.

County Communications Director Derek Sands said municipalities bordering the Hackensack and Saddle Rivers were hit particularly hard with flooding. Those communities include Lodi, Wallington, Hackensack, Rochelle Park and Saddle Brook in particular, Sands added.

More than 100 residents across the county have been evacuated.

This comes after more than 8 inches of rain were reported in some parts of the county, with Waldwick receiving the most rain at 8.59 in.

In Ridgewood, which also borders the Saddle River, Mayor Susan Knudsen said "residents along both the brook and river were impacted with some evacuations."

She credited first responders and staff, who worked "tirelessly through the night and continue working today on the aftermath of the storm."

Glen Rock Mayor Kristine Morieko reported that areas by Diamond Brook and Saddle River also dealt with flooding, with "significant impacts on the County Park, and the area of Prospect Street in Glen Rock."

Morieko also detailed a list of hardships facing residents, including downed trees, power outages and basement flooding. In one instance, a family home had its foundation "blown out" by floodwaters, and the family was forced to relocate.

Abandoned cars may also be stuck for a while, as there are no tow trucks available, she reported.

In Wyckoff, Mayor Melissa Rubenstein reports that the majority of damage came from flooded basements, but added that there were a number of downed trees, one that hit a home in the township.

Rubenstein also credited first responders, who she said were "nothing short of heroic in town and in Southern Bergen County where they’ve pulled people from submerged cars and saved lives throughout the night and today."

In addition to flooding from the Saddle River, flood warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for communities near the Ramapo River and Passaic River.

In Mahwah, which faces a flood warning due to the proximity to the Ramapo River, first responders were tasked with rescuing stranded residents, and even needed to do so by boat at one point on Wednesday night. Read more: 'Numerous Cars Underwater': Officials Recap Busy Night Post-Ida

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