30 People Trapped In Newark Floods; ‘Water Came Up Quickly’

NEWARK, NJ — According to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, there’s a way-too-casual philosophy that got more than two dozen people trapped during Monday’s storm.

“No matter how many times you tell people not to do it, there’s always somebody who thinks they can make it through,” Ambrose commented Tuesday, taking stock of a series of rescues that took place throughout the city.

• See related article: Floods, Power Outages Rock Essex County During Storm

“The water came up quickly in some cases,” Ambrose continued. “In others, people drove into deep water on flooded streets and got stuck.”

Authorities provided the following details about several rescues the Newark Fire Department made during the rush-hour deluge:

Trapped Near Bridge - “The first rescue came at 8 p.m., when the city’s Urban Water Rescue Team responded to a call of people trapped at the foot of the Wilson Avenue Bridge in the Ironbound. Four people were rescued.”

Displaced Manhole – “Minutes later, a displaced manhole cover sent water gushing over the intersection of McCarter Highway and Clay Street, stalling out five cars. Six people were helped to dry ground as the water rose.”

Car Rescues In South Ward – “The Urban Rescue Team checked the flood-prone area of Frelinghuysen Avenues and Noble Street in the South Ward at 8:10 p.m. and rescued four people trapped in several cars.”

Submerged Car On Avenue P – “A few blocks away, at Frelinghuysen and Toller Place two more people were stalled in flood waters and were taken out by fighter fighters. At the same time, four people were removed by a car submerged car on Avenue P.”

Flooding In Ironbound – “Waters rose at Paris and Magazine in the east part of the Ironbound section, where at 9 p.m. two people were removed from an inundated car.”

Rescues Near Rt. 21 – “In the vicinity of Chestnut and Hermon Streets near Route 21, also in the Ironbound firefighters rescued three people from one car and three others from other cars in flood waters.”

Last Rescue Of The Day – “The last victim was also rescued in the Ironbound at Foundry and Ferry Streets.”

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