ASBURY PARK, NJ — Wesley Lake in Asbury Park is again flooding, said police and witnesses at the scene. Several streets in town are flooded and an Asbury Park Police officer rescued a mother and her infant from a car struck in floodwaters at Fifth Avenue and Memorial Drive.
Wesley Lake started flooding at about 12 p.m. Monday, said an eyewitness. She said the flooding appears even worse than when the lake flooded in 2023.
In that year, many businesses along Lake Avenue were damaged by flood water. The Asbury Park beer hall never reopened.
"Asbury Park received 5.45 inches of rain within the past 24 hours," Asbury Park Police Sergeant Michael Casey said Monday. He said he got that data from an app called Precip App.
"We had several streets (flood) throughout town, Grand Ave/Lake Ave, Springwood Ave/Memorial Dr, Bangs Ave/Ridge Ave and Fifth Ave/Memorial Dr, to name a few," he said. "Multiple vehicles have been stranded with some of the occupants having to be rescued by the police and fire departments."
The most dramatic rescue took place at Fifth/Memorial and involved Officer Richard Thomas walking in approximately two feet of water to retrieve an infant in a car seat along with the child's mother.
"I am happy to report that all occupants of the aforementioned vehicles are safe," said Casey.
The forecast over the next few days calls for more rain. If drivers see that streets are flooded and/or questionable, do not attempt to drive through it, said police.
The Monmouth County Sheriff is reporting serious flash flooding on Rt. 35 in Ocean Township:
The following roads in Monmouth County are currently closed due to flooding:
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