- Two Die in New Jersey Flash Floods as Roads Go Under Water - August 11, 2025
- Chile Shaken by 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake, According to GFZ - August 11, 2025
- “Corn Sweat” is Set to Make This Week’s Heat Wave Feel Even More Unbearable - August 11, 2025
Flash Floods Turn Deadly in Garden State
Intense flooding and heavy rain swept across parts of the Northeast on Monday night into Tuesday, killing at least two people in New Jersey. The victims were killed when their car was swept into Cedar Brook in Plainfield, city officials said. Authorities say two women in their 60s, identified as Lubia Estevez and Forest Whitlock, were traveling along Stelle Avenue when they made a turn, ended up in a ditch and were ultimately pulled into the fast-moving waters under the bridge. Early on Tuesday morning, emergency workers retrieved a submerged vehicle and found two people deceased inside.
State Emergency Declared as Waters Rise
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency due to flash flooding and heavy rainfall, advising people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Phil Murphy said in a post on X just after 7:30 p.m. With 10-17 cms of rain falling in hours, drainage systems were overwhelmed, stranding vehicles and flooding homes. A flash flood warning was in place in the following New Jersey counties through 9:45 p.m. Monday: Middlesex, Morris and Somerset.
Rescue Operations Under Extreme Conditions
In Union County, the regional communications center received more than 1,200 emergency calls in just two hours at the height of the storm, according to a statement by the county’s director of communications, Kelly Martins. The county’s police department and water rescue teams were able to successfully rescue another 21 people from the flooding. Raging floodwaters raced through Scotch Plains, and much of Union County, stranding drivers who were trapped in their vehicles as the waters rose. In one rescue, crews used a rope to pull a man out of his car through the raging floodwaters to safe ground. 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.
Record-Breaking Rainfall Overwhelms Region
Radar estimates show more than 6 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours in northern New Jersey. Watchung saw 6.51 inches while Mountainside saw 5.34 inches. Central Park recorded its second-highest hourly rainfall total, recording 2.07 inches in one hour. Six inches of rain in under two and a half hours, in two waves — one wave, knocked a lot of these communities a little bit off kilter; the second one just came in for the kill. The intensity and speed of the rainfall caught many residents off guard, with streets transforming into rivers within minutes.
Transportation Systems Severely Impacted
The MTA New York City Transit said on X several train services were suspended in Manhattan while crews addressed “flooding in multiple stations.” 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. NJ Transit said it was also experiencing service disruptions due to the weather. “NJ Transit train and light rail services are experiencing service impacts systemwide due to weather-related conditions. Several bus routes are subject to detours due to flooding,” the agency said. Subways were restored by the Tuesday morning commute, Mayor Eric Adams said, adding that there were no major injuries.
Home Explosion Adds to Chaos
As first responders were busy with dozens of water rescues and shutting down roads, they received a report of a house explosion in North Plainfield. Firefighters arrived to find a home on Parkview Avenue splintered into pieces and engulfed in flames. The force of the explosion was so powerful, the debris ended up halfway down the block. The explosion happened shortly after 11 p.m. as the floodwaters receded, according to neighbors. The cause remains under investigation. After getting the fire under control, they did a thorough search and determined the house was unoccupied.
Tragically Familiar Pattern for Plainfield
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.” Earlier this month, two other people in the city were killed when a fast-moving storm whipped through. That system also killed a woman in North Plainfield. The repeated tragedies have left the community struggling with grief and questions about flood preparedness.
Climate Change Connection to Deadly Floods
Across the country, 145 flood-related deaths were reported in 2024 — well above the 25-year average of 85 flooding-related deaths per year. But the intense rainfall events that can lead to flash flooding have become more common, he added. “A warmer atmosphere has the ability to hold more moisture,” Rennie said. The intensity and frequency of extreme flooding events are on the rise across the United States and are likely to worsen in the years ahead, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Today, the heaviest rainstorms in Texas drop about 20% more water than they did in the late 1950s, when the planet was significantly cooler, according to the National Climate Assessment.
Infrastructure Struggles Under Pressure
Hundreds of homes in Plainfield and North Plainfield were damaged by the torrential rains. Emanuel Arriaza tossed out wet shoes as he sifted through his family home of 20 years and salvaged what he could after more than 1 foot of water inundated the first floor. “We’re homeless now. Like we don’t have a home anymore. “Probably about six inches to a foot inside the restaurant,” Russell Olden, one of the owners of Dowling’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, said. Olden said his restaurant last flooded during Hurricane Ida, so he knows exactly what the next steps are.
Emergency Response Highlights Dangerous Conditions
The NWS has said more deaths occur due to flooding than any other storm-related hazard, with just 6 inches of fast-moving water able to knock over an adult. “It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks,” it said. Over half of flood-related deaths occur when someone drives a vehicle into floodwaters. On average over the past 30 years, floods have claimed 127 lives annually. Floods are the second-most common cause of U.S. weather-related deaths, behind extreme heat, according to the National Weather Service.
Looking Forward: Preparation and Prevention
Gregory Pierce, co-director of UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, who focuses on its water and transportation initiatives, said he expects flood deaths to increase in coming years due to heightened environmental risks from climate change and a lack of investment in warning systems that are key to preventing flooding fatalities. It’s important to “make sure people get information through channels that they trust and see,” Pierce said. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s nominee for New York City mayor, stated in a social media post that the flooding underscores the challenges that extreme weather driven by climate change will pose for existing and outdated infrastructure. “We must upgrade our infrastructure for this new climate reality,” he said.
The tragedy in New Jersey serves as a stark reminder of how quickly weather can turn deadly, and how communities must adapt to a changing climate where extreme rainfall events become more frequent and intense. With flash floods now recognized as the nation’s top storm-related killer, the need for improved warning systems and infrastructure has never been more urgent.
