Month: April 2007

I’ve finally posted a first cut of flood photos up at Flickr.

Having just returned from a two hour wander about town, I can safely report the following: while not as bad as Floyd in 1999, this ranks as #2 or #3 in terms of flooding in town. Having missed Floyd itself by making my way back to New Brunswick before I was trapped here in Manville on one of my rides during that storm, I missed out on this. But for the water reach the intersection three houses down is a pretty significant feet.

Which brings me to my one issue. The basement has apparently sprung a leak, and water is now bubbling up as the water table rises. We’re currently sitting at about an inch or two and rising. I’m glad I hoisted up the valuables yesterday, but this sucks regardless.

Oh, and there’s no sign of my upstairs neighbor, which leads me to conclude he must have made his way out of the neighborhood at least, before the roads flooded over. How far he got beyond that is anyone’s guess.

Finally, if you’re thinking about trying to swing by Manville today, don’t bother. I’ve heard reports that the police have instituted checkpoints on the un-flooded roads to keep the gawkers and looters at bay.

Well the river did rise even further overnight, ensuring that, at least by car, there is no way out. The river rose to create an “island”, blocked on three sides by water and on the fourth by the railroad yard. Possibly water, too, but too many houses and buildings are currently in the way.

I’ll be venturing outside to take some photos. And, of course, it’s still raining here.

I just returned from another walk around the neighborhood, and the water’s still rising. By morning it seems fairly certain that I’ll be sealed in my neighborhood (or at least my car will be). The water has completely closed off the small single lane tunnel entrance, leaving only the high bridge over the railroad tracks. However, the water levels are already backing up out of the storm drains, indicating that, too, will flood over as the waters continue to rise.

I can only imagine what the area will look like tomorrow morning as this takes its place on the top 5 list in terms of historical high water marks.

The waters continue to rise, as I discovered on my ride through the town. Water has now blocked Dukes Parkway, Main Street in three places, including between Bridgewater/Somerville and Manville, and it’s still got some way to go.

It’s going to be a crazy night I’m sure.

As evidenced by NJ 101.5, some schools are taking the whole event pretty seriously. From a quick glance at their Storm Announcements, Branchburg, Cranford, Middlesex Borough, Milltown, and Somerville schools already have delayed openings or outright closures tomorrow.

The rivers are rising, and fast. If I weren’t living in a house that survived Floyd back in 1999 with just some water in the basement, I might be concerned. Instead, I can sit back and take this all in. Which from the looks of it out there could be a decent one here in my own back yard.

I just got back from taking a walk down the street, where in the past hour and a half the Millstone & Raritan Rivers, which meet up about two miles away from here, covered the distance from the middle of the baseball fields two streets up to Bosel Avenue. For those who have been to my house, Bosel is the next street over whose houses I share a back yard with.

The chief of police, whom I had a chance to talk to briefly, said that this was being compared to the floods in the winter of 1996. I didn’t have the heart to tell him of the NOAA forecasts are worth anything it might even be slightly worse. Unluckily for many in the area, we’re also facing higher than normal tides thanks to the new moon. And, though many people don’t realize it, the Raritan River can be affected by the tides all the way up toward Bound Brook. So some high tides mixed in with heavy rains in the region can really do a number.

In any case, I’ll post some additional updates later on, as I watch to see how high the river really comes.