Storm unleashed torrential rain, wind across South Jersey leading to waterlogged roadways
OCEAN CITY, N.J. - The Jersey shore is feeling the effects of a storm system after heavy rain and tropical storm force winds pushed into shore towns Tuesday night.
Ocean City resident Kathleen Dorris, headed out to her local supermarket to get ready before the storm hit.
"You might wanna get prepared or you’re gonna have some problems, because I got an alert that’s advising us to charge your phones. They want you to charge devices and get prepared. Had to pick up some stuff and I moved some stuff out of my yard, so it doesn’t blow the house out, because they’re talking about 60 mph winds. I don’t want that drama."
Other longtime Ocean City residents are echoing the sentiment.
"I have a deck and I stack up the chairs and actually tie them up. I do it every winter," George Smith said. "Get the trash cans in."
"So, you’re prepared," asked FOX 29’s Shaynah Ferreira.
"I’m always prepared. I’ve been here a long time. 30 something years," Smith replied.
Lee Granger says this is just another storm and it will pass, "It’s not too bad out here, not like it used to be."
Some locals say it’s just part of the deal when you choose to live down the shore.
"As long as I’m home, I’m safe," Fellanza Jonuzi said. "It’s just the weather. Weather is tricky sometimes. Sometimes, it’s bad, sometimes it’s not."
And, North Wildwood is also in the bullseye of the system, with rain falling and winds whipping at 35 mph and expected to head higher, closer to 70 mph as the night wares on.
By 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wildwood and North Wildwood experienced street flooding, while streets in Brooklawn in Camden County were underwater, and trees came down in Mays Landing.
Several roads were closed as of Wednesday morning, including Route 73 at the Tacony Palmyra Bridge, Route 130 at the Brooklawn Circl and the Delanco-Riverside Bridge.
Nearly 200,000 were without power across South Jersey to Chester County Tueday night. By Wednesday morning, AC Electric said that number had dropped to less than 30,000 for several South Jersey counties.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a preemptive State of Emergency ahead of Tuesday's storm, and several counties prone to flooding made preparations.
Check for closings, delays and cancellations, here.