KEYPORT, NJ — A Keyport DPW worker said he watched as a sailboat came unsecured from its mooring Sunday and relentlessly banged against the entire length of the town's waterfront walkway, ultimately destroying big chunks of the black metal railing.
As of Monday morning, there are at least three sailboats sitting on the shore in Keyport.
"I'm sure the town wants to find the owner and have him pay for some of the damage," said the DPW worker, who only wanted to be identified as Mike.
The water was so high the Raritan Bay was pouring over the Keyport waterfront walkway.
"The waves were washing over the railing," he continued.
"The boat was moored over there," he motioned to the Keyport municipal harbor. "But it got loose and banged up against the entire length of this. I saw it happening."
"That boat banging against the rail — the entire railing running the whole length of the waterfront will need to be replaced," said a man in this video.
"Our sign's gone, the freezers are gone," said Victor Hartley, whose family operates the Keyport Princess fishing charter, said in another video. "A f------ sailboat broke free and tore up all the railing. My freaking dock is totally gone ... Almost as bad as Sandy."
The nor'easter brought heavy rain, coastal flooding and wind gusts of over 50 MPH to New Jersey. Some towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties had six to seven feet of water on residential streets. CBS News has this video of a fox swimming through floodwater in Rumson, and a dogfish shark swam through flooded streets in Surf City on Long Beach Island. See the video.
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection is currently doing a survey to assess damage to the state. The survey is necessary to be done should President Donald Trump declare that the nor'easter meets the thresholds for a federal disaster declaration. Monmouth County Congressman Frank Pallone said he thinks the storm warrants a federal disaster declaration.
So much flooding occurred this weekend because the storm was slow moving: It stuck in this area through many high-tide cycles, said New Jersey state climatologist, Dr. John Krasting, at Rutgers University.
"No storm in over 30 years combined this many flooding cycles with water levels above three feet," said Krasting. "As of Monday morning, Atlantic City and Cape May both recorded 10 high tide cycles with at least minor flooding, and 9 cycles at Sandy Hook. This marks the longest-duration storm event with a peak water level above 3 feet, eclipsing the prolonged flooding event during the December 1992 Nor'Easter ... This storm also occurred during a full moon when tides are running at their highest levels during the month."
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