Why Is Flooding In New Jersey Getting Worse, And What To Do? Experts Answer

NEW JERSEY — When 30 New Jersey residents died in floods caused by Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1 — a storm that had actually been downgraded to a tropical depression by the time it reached the Garden State — residents wondered what can be done to mitigate the more frequent flooding that has plagued the region in the last few years. And furthermore, why is flooding becoming so much more frequent and extreme?

The last storm that caused as many fatalities was Superstorm Sandy in 2012, but most of those deaths were not caused by floods. Yet, in the last two years, some New Jersey communities have seen three or more storms with sudden flash floods that trapped cars, or proved fatal.

When Hoboken suffered two different flash flooding events a week apart last July, the mayor of that mile-square city called the first a "50 year storm" — a term he'd used for two other intense storms in that 12-month period. But by the fourth and fifth flooding incidents within the two-year period, including Ida on Sept. 1, he stopped using that terminology, which had applied to a time not long ago when extreme weather was less frequent.

In fact, experts interviewed in a recent series on flooding by NorthJersey.com, "NJ Flooding Is Getting Worse," suggested that four conditions are exacerbating the flooding in parts of New Jersey. They also discuss what must change before more lives are lost.

The series notes, "Experts say that due to more intense storms caused by climate change — combined with continued development, aging stormwater infrastructure, and the forbiddingly high cost of flood mitigation projects — the problem will only get worse."

Flooding, In Depth

In the story, Bergen County Administrator Thomas Duch points out, "What used to be a 100-year storm is taking place far more frequently than anyone ever thought."

In fact, Bergen County saw 37 bridges damaged by Ida's flooding in September.

Duch also says there's no "quick fix" and "public officials need to account for overdevelopment."

Different Types Of Floods

Indeed, different communities flood for different reasons, and their officials are struggling to find different kinds of solutions.

Hoboken is low-lying and has a century-old combined sewerage system that's being replaced. The town, in partnership with the state and federal governments, kicked off a federally funded anti-flooding effort in spring. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy Kicks Off First Step In Hoboken Anti-Flooding Program

Some of the communities that flooded during Ida, such as Millburn, Cranford, Hillsborough, and Maplewood, lie near rivers, which makes them more vulnerable as the frequency of severe storms increases. Several North Jersey towns have discussed forming flood committees to address solutions.

The NorthJersey.com series on flooding notes that:

• The state's population has grown by 20 percent in the past 30 years.
• The state's infrastructure was not built for modern conditions including more frequent storms.
• New development that's not environmentally friendly is adding to the problem. Impervious surfaces such as highways and warehouse roofs push rainwater into local streams.
• Geoffrey Goll, president of Princeton Hydro, an engineering firm, noted, "Many North Jersey towns have allowed development in flood plains."
• Severe storms are more frequent and intense than in the past due to climate change. Read more about that from NASA here.

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