New Jersey Residents Fret About Toxic Floodwaters Left By Irene
Officials are advising people to stay out of the water. They're concerned not just about oil and raw sewage, but also chemicals.
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Officials are advising people to stay out of the water. They're concerned not just about oil and raw sewage, but also chemicals.
After Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on New York City's northern suburbs, getting back to normal continues to be a struggle.
Flooding continues to be a major problem in Paterson, where several streets turned into rushing rivers as the water churned over corners and down roads.
The commuting woes that made life difficult for people struggling to get to work have improved for many in our area following Tropical Storm Irene, but significant challenges remain for many.
From Westchester County to Dutchess County and beyond, New York City's northern suburbs are still cleaning up from the torrential rains of Hurricane Irene.
Operators of the historic Big Board and other major U.S. exchanges said they plan to open for trading as usual. Their announcements came after city officials said damage from Tropical Storm Irene wasn't as severe as feared in New York's financial district.
Hurricane Irene is thundering up the east coast, lashing the tri-state with high winds and torrential rain and leaving millions without power.
Con Edison says they don't expect to cut power before the storm hits, but flooding could bring a shutdown to areas including the southern tip of Manhattan and parts of the West Village.
Nearly 270,000 New Yorkers live in the low lying areas most susceptible to flooding and wind damage. The mayor has to decided to get them out of their houses before buses, subways, and commuter trains shut down at noon Saturday, and bridges possibly close as well.
Those most directly impacted include residents who live south of Sunrise Highway between the Queens line and Rockville Center, south of Merrick Road from Rockville center to the Suffolk County border and low-lying areas on the north shore.
Connecticut would be among the areas in the Tri-State that would likely get the brunt of the force of Hurricane Irene.
The damaging and deadly storms that roared through the area Friday night are gone, but today, it's time to deal with the aftermath.
Following a day of record rainfall that led to power outages, disrupted train service and flooded homes for many in the Tri-State area, an all-out effort is being made to repair the damage.
"The Far Rockaway branch has been bused since about 6 a.m. this morning. Busing will continue indefinitely because a lot of the yard is underwater," Margie Anders, LIRR spokeswoman, told WCBS 880. "There's a pump truck but it's not doing much against the forces of nature."
Heavy rain and flooding Sunday has caused power outages, train service disruptions and has stranded motorists throughout the area. So much rain has fallen that New York City set a record for rainfall on Sunday.
A Rockland County theater has likely closed its doors for good.
Some residents claim it is up to United Water to better maintain water levels at a nearby reservoir -- especially during a bad storm. They say the excess water inevitably winds up on streets and in homes.
Business owners are facing another day of cleanup. Many of their basements are flooded with several feet of water, and restaurant owners are being forced to replace food which they had to throw away.
Wild and dangerous weather caused quite a scare in parts of the Tri-State on Friday, as thunderstorms left toppled trees and flooding in their wake.
The flood waters from Thursday's storms have finally started receding, but as residents assess the damage, another round of storms could bring even more flooding to the region.
While still providing aid to dozens of countries overseas, AmeriCares has been sending relief to flood and tornado stricken states in the south and Midwest.
When it rains, it pours and when it pours, it floods. That's what residents and business owners say about New York Avenue in Huntington, Long Island.
Wet weather continued to push through New York City and the rest of the Tri-State Area on Wednesday night, bringing the potential for flooding and a strain on the morning commute.
Water began gushing out of the 12-inch main from 1941 just after 5 a.m., flooding streets in the Sunset Park section.
As flood-prone areas of New Jersey began drying out Tuesday, angry residents of flooded areas called again on New Jersey's leaders to do more to keep their roads and homes dry.