Camden County Preparing For Possible Flooding

Camden County is preparing for the possibility of flooding in areas previously impacted by heavy rains ahead of an expected storm system that may hit the area on Friday. There is the potential for heavy rainfall Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. A widespread total of two to three inches of rains is expected, with as much as four inches possible in some localized areas.

Areas that were impacted by heavy rainfall earlier this week will be particularly vulnerable to another round of flash flooding, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service.

“With all the rain that’s come through in the last two weeks, we could see an elevated risk of flooding in areas of poor drainage,” Camden County Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said. “Areas around streams and creeks are especially a concern, as are roadways that are typically known to flood.”

Drivers are urged to use caution and avoid low-lying areas where flooding is known to occur, and avoid any downed power lines or tree branches. The county has about 100 vehicles ready to go in an effort to keep Camden County’s 1,400 lane miles of roadways passable.

“If flooding occurs in our area, never drive your vehicle into areas where water covers the roadway,” Shin Angulo said. “Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Even after showers have slowed, driving into water that’s too deep could cause a car to stall and create a very dangerous situation for those still in the vehicle.”

In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, residents should immediately call their utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore power. Below are numbers and contact info for the power providers in Camden County:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476; http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/

As always, dial 911 for emergencies only. For problems on county roads, call the county’s 24-hour hotline at 856-566-2980 to report it to the Department of Public Works.

Patch file photo