Updated: Residents Evacuated Due to Flooding

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

Residents in flood prone areas of town were hit hard on Sunday as water filled their homes and forced them to evacuate to higher ground. Homeowners on Columbia and Harvard Streets were affected as well as residents of Pine and Lenox Avenues across town.

As the rain intensified Saturday night into Sunday, several motorists had to be rescued. 

"Overnight into Sunday morning, New Milford Police closed New Bridge Road from the River Edge border to River Road," said NMPD Chief Frank Papapietro. "The New Milford Fire Department rescued stranded motorists by boat on Old New Bridge Road when their vehicles stalled in deep water."

The Hackensack River at New Milford was measured at more than eight and a half feet at  1:15 p.m. Sunday, which is more than two feet higher than flood stage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Residents had to be evacuated from their homes on Sunday afternoon.

"Approximately 40 residences were checked and offered evacuation," said Papapietro. "Approximately 25 residents and numerous pets were evacuated and temporarily self re-located."

"Those evacuated were offered medical assistance from the New Milford Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and were offered relocation from Office of Emergency Management," said Papapietro. "All refused medical aid and shelter and most residents have subsequently returned to their homes."

Sunday evening continued to be busy for both the police and fire departments in New Milford.

"At approximately 7 p.m. residents on Pine Avenue requested evacuation," said Papapietro. "Approximately 10 people were removed from their residences by the NMFD."

The NMFD also assisted the Oradell Fire Department with the rescue of a motorist Sunday evening.

"The NMFD and Oradell Fire Department rescued a motorist at Elm Street and New Milford Avenue who ignored a barricade on Madison Avenue and stalled her vehicle in high water."

Residents were forced to cope with difficult situations related to flood conditions throughout the day.

Jaime Chismar and Craig Baccaglione live at 161 Lenox Avenue and were forced to leave their house overnight. 

"I've lived here all my life," said Baccaglione. "It used to happen like this every five years but now it's happening every year, every March and April."

Four years ago they were forced to replace the foundation on their home which borders the Hirshfeld Brook. The waves from rescue boats crashed against the house back in 2007 which in combination with high flood waters pushed in part of the foundation.

Chismar and Baccaglione purchased a camper from a friend of theirs awhile back which they were staying in on Sunday. They had parked it at the top of the block. 

Baccaglione owns a landcaping company, Lawns by Kelly Green, and hired his foreman to come help him with the flooding. 

"I had just done the aeration and seeding on my yard," said Baccaglione. "I just put down mulch and had already planted my organic garden and now it is completely under water."

Both Chismar and Baccaglione said on Sunday morning that they had not received any reverse 911 calls nor had they seen police officers on their streets for hours.

"There is no communication between the township, United Water and the people in the flood zone," said Baccaglione."United Water will tell you they are not in flood management, they are in water management."

Borough officials said a reverse 911 call was made to residents beginning around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Chismar said they knew it was going to be bad when they saw the water over the top of the sewers around 3:30 a.m. 

"This is the worst it has been since last year," said Chismar. "I hope somebody does something about it."

Athletic fields around the borough were also flooded, including the fields at New Milford High School and Pavone and LaBarbera Fields behind Borough Hall. Pavone Field had recently undergone a complete renovation by the New Milford Little League, according to league president John Lignos.

United Water did not immediately return a call for comment.