Severe Weather and Flooding Possible for Thursday

National Weather Service issues a hazardous weather warning throughout North Jersey.

Heavy rain and possible flooding are expected throughout northern New Jersey on Thursday, with the National Weather Service (NWS) predicting thunderstorms and up to 2 inches of rain. A flood watch was issued from the Mount Holly weather service station for several counties, including Morris, Essex, Bergen, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. The NWS predicted that the heavy rain could cause flooding in some areas with already high water. "The added rain will increase the chances for flooding to occur on rivers and creeks that are already running high due to the heavy rain that occurred last Friday and Monday," the NWS said on its website. The NJ Office of Emergency Management also is monitoring a low pressure and severe storm system. …

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Sandy Will Be a 'Long-Duration Event,' NOAA Official Says

Hurricane will bring a variety of hazards and up to 8 inches of rain as it wreaks havoc throughout East Coast, according to federal officials.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additional damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between 5 and 8 inches of rain to the affected area, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini said. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

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Flood Control Tops Mayors' List Of Priorities

The next meeting of the Mayors' Council on Rahway River Flood Control will focus on gaining legislative support for proposed projects.

Volunteers from the Cranford River Maintenance Committee found a tee marker from the Maplewood Country Club in the river in Cranford the same week the Mayors' Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control requested that the East Branch of the Rahway River be included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' study of storage areas. The East Branch flows through Orange, West Orange, South Orange and Maplewood before its connects with the West Branch at Millburn, Union and Springfield. Any reduction due to storage would help downstream communities including Cranford and Rahway. The Maplewood Country Club is one of the potential sites for additional storage as the Rahway River goes through the Club's golf course, said former Cranford Mayor Dan …

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Hurricane Irene

Coming Home in the Wake of Irene

Couple returns from L.A. to find basement flooded

As Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc in our area last Sunday, Gila and Jules Zalon were in Los Angeles for a reading of Gila’s new film, “The Rife Machine.” Knowing a hurricane was a possibility during their trip, the empty nest parents of three adult children prepared as best they could. “We made sure the sump pump was working and pulled out plugs,” said Gila. Then she said they “crossed their fingers and hoped for the best.” The large basement, which was completed after the couple purchased their West Orange home in November of 2005, spans the entire length of the house. There are five rooms in the wall-to-wall carpeted area. It functioned as their home office  space, with each having their own office, plus a conference room, storage room …

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