Ida Causes 'Significant Damage', Evacuations: Ridgewood Updates

This story was updated at 4:12 p.m.

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Heavy rains have left the area, and flooding is expected to subside over the course of the next few days, but many residents of Ridgewood are now tasked with taking stock of the damage the storm left behind.

Ridgewood Public School buildings saw flooding at Ridge Elementary School, Benjamin Franklin Middle School and Ridgewood High School cause "limited damage" to school buildings, but caused class cancellations.

Athletic fields at the high school didn't fare as well.

"Unfortunately, two athletic fields at Ridgewood High School sustained significant damage as a result of flooding during the storm this week," said Superintendent Thomas Gorman.

"The district is assessing the extent of the damage and determining necessary repairs to the fields and surrounding areas."

The fields will be closed for "several weeks," and alternate arrangements for fall sports teams are currently being made.

Flooding around the Saddle River seemed to cause most of the damage locally, as Mayor Susan Knudsen said "residents along both the brook and river were impacted with some evacuations."

She credited first responders and staff, who worked "tirelessly through the night and continue working today on the aftermath of the storm."

Village Hall remained closed on Friday, but employees and contractors were "working diligently" to get the hall and parking lot open again.

Work will also begin at residential homes in the village, as officials said in a message that many residents had items that were damaged or destroyed in the flooding.

Bulk items can be put out on regular collection days for pickup, officials announced. This change will run from Friday through Sept. 10.

The recycling center will be closed until at least Tuesday due to flooding in the parking lot.

Rainfall totals in the county range from 3 to 8 inches across the county, with North Arlington reporting 8.8 inches, the National Weather Service said.

As communities take stock of the damage, and people seek help in the wake of the storm, Bergen County has opened the Housing, Health, and Human Services Center in Hackensack as a distribution site for hot meals and hygiene kits.

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