Hoboken Floods After ‘Heaviest Rain In 2 Years’ (VIDEOS)

HOBOKEN, NJ — It was the heaviest rainstorm in more than two years, according to Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. And when it was over, the Mile Square City was left flooded.

On Wednesday, a storm felt across the state dumped almost two inches of rain on Hoboken and caused flooding throughout the city, as well as other parts of the state. The intensity and duration of the rainstorm was partly to blame, but so was the timing… right during high tide, Bhalla said.

“While we did experience significant flooding, here’s the good news – our flood pumps were operational and pumped out water throughout the duration of the storm,” Bhalla said Thursday.

According to the mayor, the city’s H-1 and H-5 flood pumps, in operation since 2013 and 2015, pumped out about 15 million gallons of rainwater from local streets over four hours.

“Within 30 minutes to an hour of the end of the storm, the floodwater subsided, largely because of the effectiveness of the flood pumps,” Bhalla said. “In the absence of these pumps, the depth and duration of flooding would have been more severe.”

Bhalla said that although the city is addressing flash flood events through a “comprehensive strategy,” the risks associated with flooding will never be entirely mitigated.

“The fact is, Hoboken was built before sewers and stormwater systems were separated,” Bhalla said. “The process of separating the sewer system city-wide could cost upwards of a billion dollars or more.”

Bhalla said that some “cost-effective solutions” on the city’s to-do list include:

NEW FLOOD PUMP: “In addition to the H-1 and H-5 flood pumps, the City will be breaking ground on a new flood pump in September as a part of the Northwest Park. This third pump will assist in alleviating flooding in Northwest Hoboken.”

RESILIENCY PARKS: “Recent open space projects include underground stormwater retention and surface green infrastructure to capture rainwater during storms. The Northwest Park will include the capacity to store at least 1.5 million gallons of rainwater, our recently opened 7th and Jackson park can store up to 470,000 gallons, the Southwest Park stores up to 200,000 gallons and the Southwest Park expansion will also have an underground storage system.”

RAIN GARDENS: “A number of green infrastructure projects have been installed throughout Hoboken that can absorb rainwater during storms. Rain gardens, like the 15 on Washington Street, as well as bioswales and cisterns, help keep rainwater out of the sewer system during storms that would otherwise end up as flood water on city streets.”

POROUS PAVEMENT: “New porous pavement behind City Hall, at Southwest Park, at the Hoboken Police Department and Fire Department headquarters helps keep rainwater out of the sewer system. Hoboken is planning for capital improvements like surface treatments that limit rainwater from entering the sewers.”

NEW TREES: “Trees help reduce stormwater runoff, and in partnership with the shade tree commission, Hoboken has the goal of planting 1,000 new trees in 2020.”

REBUILD BY DESIGN: “The City has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on the $230 million Rebuild by Design project that will dramatically reduce flood risk from coastal storm surge events. The project is expected to begin construction in 2020 and conclude in 2022.”

Pix 11 News posted the below video, which includes footage of flooding in Hoboken.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Hoboken Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com