Governor Declares State Of Emergency In Bergen, Passaic Counties

Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in Bergen and Passaic counties Tuesday following the worst flooding to hit the area in nearly 20 years.

Murphy said there is "no doubt" that parts of New Jersey have received nothing less than "historic" amounts of rain, and some communities received an entire month's worth in just a few hours, Murphy said.

"This will allow us to focus resources into the most impacted areas, as necessary," he said. "Our job as public officials, first and foremost, is to ensure that everyone is safe, especially since we may not be out of this weather pattern yet and more rain may still fall on already saturated ground."

The National Weather Service has forecasted that more storms may hit New Jersey, further complicating cleanup in affected communities, Murphy's office said.

Flooding was especially bad for people in Little Falls, Woodland Park, and Wayne after anywhere from 5 to 8 inches of rain fell Saturday and Sunday.

Murphy toured Little Falls and Woodland Park at the request of those towns' mayors, James Damiano and Keith Kazmark, respectively. (See related: Shocking Videos Show Floating Cars In NJ Floods, Piling Up)

Unbelievable videos show vehicles swept away by the New Jersey flash flooding on Saturday and piling on top of each other as people watched.

Murphy urged all New Jerseyans to exercise caution when traveling into rain-impacted areas. He stressed that motorists should not attempt to cross flooded streets, and to remain vigilant for power lines that may be brought down by falling trees.

Residents may visit ready.nj.gov for information on how to build an emergency preparedness kit, plan ahead, and prepare your family for emergencies. The NJ Office of Emergency Management provides important weather updates and safety information on Twitter at @ReadyNJ.

Photo: Governor Murphy tours a flood-damaged property in Little Falls. (Courtesy of Governor Phil Murphy's Office)