Cranford OEM Storm Update: 09/28/2023
The following is an update from the Cranford Office of Emergency Management (OEM) as of 09/28/2023 @ 7:10 PM:
A Coastal Storm system will impact our area from early Friday morning into the overnight hours Friday night. This storm has the potential to cause significant flash flooding of roadways, as well as near flood prone areas near the river and small streams. Confidence in our area receiving rainfall totals which produce this flooding remains somewhat low, however there is the potential that we will experience flooding during the day Friday into the evening. The flood threat will largely subside as we go into Friday night.
What residents should do:
Residents in flood prone areas should take common sense precautions and monitor conditions if flooding materializes. Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, as the National Weather Service will issue Flood Warnings if conditions materialize. All NWS warnings impacting Cranford will be automatically re-broadcast on Nixle.
If the heaviest rainfall rates occur over the Cranford area, significant roadway flooding may occur. Flood prone locations may become inundated with rain runoff. The most likely time for this will be during the day on Friday. Please do not attempt to drive through roadways that are flooded. Just six inches of water is enough to disable a vehicle and cause life-threatening conditions. Confidence is low as to where these conditions may occur, however there is the possibility of it occurring within the Metro area on Friday.
In addition, overbanking of the river and brooks may occur if the highest rainfall totals impact the Union or Essex county areas. If you live in a flood prone location, monitor weather conditions and have a plan in the event that flood warnings are issued.
The Township has taken precautions, including opening river gates and deploying pumps, and has implemented storm response procedures within the public safety and public works departments. We can protect ourselves and our families with some common sense preparedness measures.
Again, there is not a high degree of confidence in this storm's impacts to Cranford. However, there is the possibility for flooding, including some significant flash flooding, if the right conditions materialize. So, all residents should remain weather aware over the next 24 hours, and if you live in a flood zone, have a plan in place in case the higher-end rainfall impacts our area.
Residents should report any non-emergency utility problems directly at the contact points below.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UTILITY COMPANIES:
PSE&G 1-800-436-7734
Elizabethtown Gas 1-800-242-5830
New Jersey American Water 1-800-272-1325
Comcast 1-800-266-2278
Verizon FiOS 1-888-438-3467
Verizon 1-800-827-4966
As always, please reserve 9-1-1 for EMERGENCIES ONLY.