Wayne declares state of emergency with many streets flooded and impassable
WAYNE — The township has declared a local state of emergency as entire roads remained submerged Tuesday from rising floodwater.
Many streets west of Route 23, including Kurland Street, Ryerson Avenue and West Belt Parkway, were still impassable after torrential rain inundated the area Sunday night into Monday afternoon.
The purpose of the emergency declaration is to designate a disaster zone and to ensure that authorities “will not be impeded” in their effort to maintain traffic flow and to protect the welfare of residents.
On Fayette Avenue, there was evidence of a fortunate escape. A skiff had been paddled to slightly higher ground at the corner of Fairfield Road, and inside of the otherwise empty boat was a blanket.
Willowbrook Mall, built on a floodplain less than 1,000 feet from the Passaic River, was spared any damage, and its entire parking lot was open to holiday shoppers. However, the roads that loop around the retail complex appeared more like canals.
There were trouble spots even on the opposite side of the highway.
A ballfield was totally deluged on Taylor Drive, where wooden pallets had been swept over the road.
More: Why did this week's rainstorm hit North Jersey so hard? It could be El Niño
The river was expected to crest in neighboring Little Falls at 9.7 feet at 5:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Flood stage is considered 7 feet, and major flood stage 9 feet.
The last time the river crept above this week’s mark was during Hurricane Irene in August 2011, when it rose to its second-highest level ever recorded: 14.2 feet.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wayne NJ declares state of emergency due to flooding
