2 killed when car swept away in flash flooding in New Jersey, dozens rescued
Two people died when flash floods struck New Jersey on Monday, submerging cars, flooding roadways and canceling flights.
The victims were killed when their car was swept into Cedar Brook in Plainfield, city officials said. This comes days after two others were killed in severe storms in Plainfield on July 3.
"To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable," Mayor Adrian Mapp said in a statement. "We mourn with the families, and we remain committed to doing all we can to strengthen our emergency response systems and protect our residents from future harm."
In nearby North Plainfield, officers waded through chest-high water to rescue about 40 people as the heavy flooding destroyed homes and cars on Monday, North Plainfield police said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency.
Monday's flash flood warnings spanned from northern New Jersey to New York City to Westchester County, New York, to Washington, D.C., to Arlington, Virginia.
In New York City, police reported flooding conditions on the Cross Bronx Expressway, while video from Manhattan showed floodwaters rushing into the 28th Street subway station.
Subways were restored by the Tuesday morning commute, Mayor Eric Adams said, adding that there were no major injuries.
Central Park recorded its second-highest hourly rainfall total, recording 2.07 inches in one hour. This represents a 1-in-20-year flood for Central Park.
More than 2,000 flights were canceled in the U.S. on Monday. The flooding also posed major disruptions to New Jersey Transit and Metro-North train travel on Monday night.
On Tuesday, the flood threat continues for the Mid-Atlantic.
In Petersburg, Virginia, 18 inches of water was recorded in some backyards on Monday and rare flash flood emergency was issued. About 50 people were evacuated from several apartment buildings, according to the Petersburg Fire Department.
As the city braces for more rain on Tuesday, Mayor Sam Parham declared a state of emergency and asked residents to stay off the streets.
Flash flooding is a threat to much of Virginia, including Petersburg, Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Rainfall rates could hit 2 inches per hour, quickly dropping 2 to 4 inches of rain on the state.
Meanwhile, in Texas, as rescue teams continue their search for flooding victims, a flash flood watch was issued for the Texas Hill Country through Tuesday afternoon.
