Community Corner

Storms Roll Through Essex County

Flash Flood Warning Posted by National Weather Service Until 9 p.m.

Essex County is under a flash flood warning until 9 p.m. Friday after a line of extremely strong thunderstorms swept through the area during the evening commute.

“These are quick-hitting thunderstorms and they can drop half and inch to an inch of rain very quickly,” according to Dr. David Robinson, the state’s climatologist.

Strong lightning, heavy rain and thunder have accompanied the storms since early Friday morning. These storm cells have caused flooding in towns around the county and are causing levels of precipitation so severe and fast that storm drains can’t handle it.

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“For a while, the water backs up into the streets and into people’s basements and it leaves a mess,” Robinson said. “It’s gone as quickly as it comes.”
Robinson said the storm does not produce the type of rains that send rivers over their marks, but it falls so quickly, “the water has nowhere to run off but into people’s basements and into the streets.”
One of the most common situations in a storm such as the ones we’re seeing today involves puddles, he said. 

“People drown in flash floods. They go under a railroad underpass, for instance, thinking it’s just a puddle of water and all of a sudden, a car can start floating away with less than a foot of water,” Robinson said. “And if that water is moving, it’s even worse.”
Robinson also warned motorists to stay away from both streams and underpasses.

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“Stay away from streams and underpasses,” he warned. “You can get into trouble really quickly whether you’re in the car or out on the street. 
Robinson offered the following tips for sudden storms like we’ve experienced today:

• "Get inside. Don't operate electrical equipment, don't take a shower. You should stay away from windows not because you may get hit from lighting, but more because there can be strong winds that could blow out a window. Stay indoors.

• If you are outside, get to a low spot. You don't want to get a low spot that is going to flood. Don't be on a hilltop or a small grove of trees. Run into the middle of a forest or woodland. Get away from isolated trees. Don't be the tallest object.


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