Caldwell Trying To Move Past $1M In Storm Damage: Report

CALDWELL, NJ — Caldwell has taken a $575,000 step towards dealing with the damage left in the wake of a devastating storm, a report says.

During a meeting of the Caldwell Borough Council last week, the mayor and council members approved an emergency resolution that will allot $500,000 for construction of any necessary water and sewer improvements in the township, and $75,000 for engineering costs, NewJerseyHills.com reported. (Read the full article here and watch a video from the meeting below)

The resolution came after a heavy storm dumped several inches of rain on the area and left flooding and other damage in its wake earlier this month.

• See related article: Caldwell Library To Reopen After Taking Storm Damage
• See related article: Caldwell Municipal Buildings Take 'Major Damage' In Storm
• See related article: West Caldwell Bridge Reopens After Storm, Still Needs Replacement

Caldwell Sewer Director Greg Seaman said that “no system could have accommodated the storm,” but added that the town can still “tighten up” its current system, NewJerseyHills.com reported.

For example, illegal sump pumps as well as potentially broken pipes near local streams may be sending water into the sewer system causing overloads in nearby homes. Water may also be entering the system though manhole covers, which are not waterproof, Seaman said.

Caldwell Borough Attorney Greg Mascera said that new homes at the old Essex County Jail annex site in North Caldwell may also be causing flooding, NewJerseyHills.com reported.

The borough of Caldwell has filed $1 million in storm damages with Essex County, data that will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has the authority to possibly provide aid to the area… if President Donald Trump declares that the storm/flooding qualifies as a “major disaster.”

• See related article: Will Verona Get Flood Aid From Feds? It May Be Up To Trump.

Caldwell’s mayor and emergency management coordinator declared the following sections of the borough as “disaster areas” on Aug. 12:

• Municipal parking deck
• Public library building
• Pine Brook area

Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency in Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic counties after the storm.

"There is no doubt that parts of our state have received nothing less than historic amounts of rain, and some communities received an entire month's worth in just a few hours," the governor said.

• See related article: Murphy Declares State Of Emergency In Essex County After Storm

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Photo: Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department