Burlington County issues voluntary evacuation order, state of emergency ahead of Friday's storm
NEXT Weather Alert: Moderate to major flooding is expected Saturday afternoon along the Delaware River | What you need to know
DELRAN, N.J. (CBS) -- Burlington County declared a countywide state of emergency and issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents who want to get away from areas that flooded earlier this week.
This all happened Friday ahead of a storm that moved into the region dropping a half inch to an inch of rain or more across the region.
A shelter is open at Delran Fire Company No. 1, located at 9 S. Bridgeboro Street, for anyone who needs it. The county said it will open a second shelter if needed.
Saturday, minor to moderate flooding was possible with the Delaware River and some creeks peaking in the afternoon and evening, National Weather Service data showed.
We saw some water in the roads in Delran near the Rancocas on Saturday morning.
A powerful storm caused flooding in the county earlier this week, and more rain fell Friday night.
The Burlington County Office of Emergency Management said it prepared for anywhere between a half-inch to 1.5 inches of rain Friday night. Winds are expected to be between 40 and 50 mph Saturday as well.
Homeowners in East Riverton spent Friday racing to clean up their flooded basements and cars.
At one point, Laura Byrnes' basement had about five-and-a-half feet of water.
"You just don't know what to do in that situation, Byrnes said. "We're hoping that we can get the water as low as possible before more rain comes, and that's all we can really hope for."
Until the rain comes, Gary Zube is drying out the two inches of water in his car.
"I'm prepared because I've been through it before," Zube said. "I know somewhat what to expect."
Many people are coming into Schwering's Hardware where, according to owner Kyle Siemietkosk, their most popular items are sump pumps for flooded basements and waterproof sealants to fix leaks.
"So, it's very important to keep the community together," Siemietkoski said. "That's why we try to stock up and help the community as much as we can."
Many people who live along Stewart Avenue in Delran were still cleaning up and pumping water out of their basements and homes, so the thought of dealing with this all over again is not something they want to hear.
"We're bracing for more rain, strong winds and potential for more severe flooding," Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Dan O'Connell said. "Our emergency management teams and first responders are making preparations, but in the interest of everyone's safety, we're asking residents in our previous flood zones to voluntarily evacuate in order to avoid putting lives at risk."
Delran was hit hard by flooding this week, with about 50 homes impacted.
Areas in Delran that were flooded include:
- Alden Avenue, Stewart Avenue (avoid 81 Stewart Ave), River Road
- East Riverton section of Cinnaminson:
- North Randolph Avenue
- Pompess Avenue
- Delaware Drive
- Zeisner Avenue
Fairfax Drive near the Pennsauken Creek was also hit hard by the earlier storms.
Flooding is anticipated along the Delaware River during Saturday's high tides at around 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m., according to a Burlington County OEM news release. Minor flooding is also possible along the Rancocas Creek.
