PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Jersey Shore was battered by a nor’easter this weekend, but the damage isn't over yet. The high tide may affect the Monday morning commute.
The storm has brought wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, beach erosion, and left tens of thousands of people without power. Power companies are reporting nearly 3,000 outages in the region. PSE&G said Sunday evening that it restored power to about 50,000 customers throughout New Jersey. Select Amtrak trains are being canceled or delayed. Check the website for the latest schedule updates.
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About 2,500 workers mobilized this weekend to help restore power and assist with any fallen trees and power lines. As of 8 p.m. Sunday, about 285 flights were delayed at Philadelphia International Airport. Ten flights were canceled. Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem counties are still under a State of Emergency.
The storm caused serious flooding across the region. In Egg Harbor Township, police said nine people and a dog were rescued from a couple of flooded motels.
Emergency responders went to the Travel Inn and New Sea Breeze motels around 9 a.m. Saturday to do well-being checks for the storm and found 2-to-3 feet of water filling the rooms on the first floor. There was also a small fire in one of the rooms at the Travel Inn. Crews took those inside to warming centers.
By Sunday, areas like Vetnor felt like ghost towns. Hardly any people were out, and barely any businesses were open. Dirt, sand, and debris littered the streets, and trash cans were knocked over.
Josh Manning thought it was pretty chancy at some points.
"We were looking at the radar; we were like, we have power, we’re good up here. But we want to leave this week; we don’t want to be stuck here. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Is the bridge going to get swept? Are there going to be boats in the road they have to move?"
Authorities stress the importance of turning around if you encounter a considerable pool of water on the road. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said, though the worst came earlier in the weekend, Jersey isn’t quite out of the woods.
"There’s also one more high tide we’re concerned about at 9 a.m. [Monday] for coastal flooding. And as residents of the back bay know, that flooding may stick around for longer."
You can keep up with road closures at 511nj.org
Despite the harsh weather, Irish Fall Fest still got underway in Wildwood on Friday, but events were canceled for Saturday. The Catholic Mass at St. Ann Church will still took place on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
In North Wildwood, Michelle said she was not going to miss the opening night of Irish weekend.
“Sandbags at our house; I live back by the bay. We live on a barrier island so you have to realize [flooding] is going to happen… so we prepare, and then we party.”
By 10 p.m. on Saturday, the Irish bars were still bumping, but the coastal floods had already hit some of the side streets closest to the water.
“Whenever you have that onshore flow, especially for such a long duration, which is what we’re looking at now, then the concern increases for coastal and tidal flooding,” said Sarah Johnson, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
The Wave Parking Garage in Atlantic City will be open until Monday for people wanting to move their cars out of flooded areas. If your car is there, you will not be charged.
Canceled events
- The South Street Fall Fest in Philadelphia was canceled for Saturday, Sept. 26, because of the incoming nor'easter. Organizers said it was a difficult decision, but they had to prioritize vendor and attendee safety. A rain date has not been set.
- The Parent & Family University Kickoff & Celebration scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, has been postponed. A new date has not been released.
- The Germantown Arts District Festival scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, has also been postponed.
- The Philadelphia Zoo Car Show has been canceled for Sunday, Sept. 27.
- The Philadelphia Marathon Training Run scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, has been canceled. Organizers said runners' safety is their highest priority and cannot take any risks with 40-mile-per-hour winds in the forecast. A new date has not been announced.
- The Bike MS: City to Shore Ride has also been canceled.
- Open Streets in Center City is canceled for Sunday, Sept. 27.
