Key Point Summary โ Two Killed in New Jersey Floods
- Two people drowned in floodwaters in Plainfield, NJ during Mondayโs storm
- Vehicle was swept into a brook; victims pronounced dead at the scene
- Central Park saw its second-highest rainfall rate ever recorded
- Manhattan subways flooded, prompting emergency overnight repairs
- Massive flooding hit Pennsylvaniaโs Lancaster County with 7 inches of rain
- Roads buckled and a home exploded amid storm damage in New Jersey
- Governor Phil Murphy confirmed White House outreach for disaster support
Storm Unleashes Deadly Floods in New Jersey
A violent overnight storm sweeping across the U.S. Northeast turned deadly in New Jersey. Two people were killed when their vehicle got swept into a brook by fast-rising floodwaters in the city of Plainfield, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called the tragedy part of a dangerous weather pattern gripping the region: high humidity, extreme heat, and now, devastating storms.
โEverybody needs to stay alert,โ Murphy urged as he toured storm damage in Berkeley Heights. The victimsโ names have not been released yet, pending notification of their families.
Rescuers Arrived Quickly, But Too Late
Emergency personnel responded swiftly after the car vanished into the waters, but both individuals were already dead by the time they arrived, according to a statement released by the city.
This marks the second double fatality in Plainfield from flooding this month. Just weeks ago, another storm claimed two lives there, and a third in nearby North Plainfield.
The city, like many across the Northeast, is struggling to cope with the rapid onset of torrential rainfall eventsโonce considered rare, now increasingly frequent.
NYC Slammed With Subway Floods
Across the Hudson, New York City got walloped. Rain fell so fast it triggered one of the most intense subway floods in recent memory.
Videos posted online showed water pouring down into a Manhattan subway station like a waterfall. Riders trapped inside trains could only watch as platforms submerged.
Janno Lieber, CEO of the MTA, said the cityโs outdated sewer system couldnโt handle the volume. โMore than 1 ยพ inches of rain in an hour? Thatโs the limit,โ he said. โAnd we passed it.โ
He added that in some cases, the water pressure below ground โpopped a manhole,โ creating geysers that shot into the air.
Subway Service Restored Overnight
Despite the mayhem, transit crews worked through the night to restore service. Lieber confirmed that subway and commuter rail lines were back in operation by Tuesday morning.
But the flood served as a grim reminder: nearly a decade and billions of dollars after Superstorm Sandy, the cityโs transit system remains vulnerable to sudden downpours.
Officials have installed some waterproofing measuresโstorm doors, raised vents, and sidewalk curbsโbut many stations remain at risk.
Pennsylvania Floods Trigger Water Rescues
The storm didnโt spare Pennsylvania. In Lancaster County, roughly seven inches of rain fell in just hours. Streets turned into rivers. Basements filled with water. And emergency crews scrambled to perform water rescues across the area.
By Tuesday, several roads remained closed. Some pavement sections had buckled under pressure, forcing detours and prompting local emergency declarations.
In New Jersey, a major east-west highway required emergency repairs. Flights at area airports were delayed or canceled due to the chaotic weather.
House Explodes During Flooding in North Plainfield
As if floods werenโt enough, one North Plainfield home exploded and collapsed during the storm. Governor Murphy confirmed the blast but said no one was injured because the family wasnโt home.
The explosion, tied to storm-related damage, remains under investigation.
White House Offers Help
With damage spreading across multiple states, the Biden administration has already reached out. Governor Murphy confirmed contact from the White House as New Jersey officials began damage assessments.
The federal government could soon declare parts of the state a disaster zone, allowing funds to flow for repairs and recovery.
What Comes Next?
By Tuesday afternoon, most flash flood watches in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania had expired. But the stormโs impact lingers.
With roads collapsed, homes ruined, and lives lost, cleanup will take daysโif not weeks.
Experts say this kind of flash flooding is becoming the new normal. The Northeast, once thought immune to extreme weather, now faces back-to-back disasters almost every season.
For residents of Plainfield, the latest tragedy brings fresh grief. And for officials, it brings renewed urgency.
Because the next deadly storm may not wait long.
