For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
The damage that Isaias brought was severe across the entire state. In South Jersey, Isaias brought 109 mph winds and two tornadoes in Barnegat township and ripped off roofs of business in Wildwood and Cape May. In Hudson County, in Jersey City, severe wind also caused major damage and debris. Inland areas of the state were also impacted with heavy winds, down utility lines and brush fires.
“Every time there is a major storm, there has been major damage to our state. Tropical storm Isaias left devastating damage across the state. High winds and tornadoes torn down roofs, decimated cars, and closed major highways and even parkways lanes. In South Jersey, residents found their trees to be uprooted, hanging onto utility lines, or crashed into nearby cars. In Monmouth County, commuters found themselves in chaos as major road lights were out and right of ways became a free for all. Once again, we see the devastating aftermath around that state that we should not be seeing,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “New Jersey has not learned its lesson and keeps on making the same mistakes over and over again. As sea levels rise and temperatures change, storms will become more frequent and worse. That is why we need to act now. New Jersey must use up-to-date data in our mapping and planning, buy out flood prone properties, and deal with chronic sea level rise and flooding.”
Over 150,000 homes in Monmouth County are still without power. Residents in Middletown said their street looked like a war zone with trees uprooted, utility lines down and debris covering the streets. Utility poles are down in Hazlet and have caused closures in areas of route 36. Apartment roofs in Asbury Park were ripped off and Bradley Beach, Spring Lake, and surrounding towns had several trees down onto homes and blocked streets. Inland, Isaias brought devastating winds, flash floods, and tornadoes. Outdoor tents and structures of restaurants in Morristown were destroyed. In Randolph Township, down power lines caused a small brush fire near resident’s homes.
“Governor Murphy also has not moved forward with dealing with climate change, it impacts, let alone getting rid of Christie’s rollbacks. Not only have we failed to learn the lessons of the superstorm, climate impacts and sea level rise are getting worse. Sea level is rising, and storms are coming whether we like it or not. We need to adapt and mitigate. Instead of limiting development and pulling back from building on flood prone areas, we are putting more homes in flood risk zones. We are still building in vulnerable areas and granting permits under Christie-era regulations that don’t protect against climate change or storm impacts,” said Tittel. “We are still the only state in the region without a Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan. We need to move forward with a Coastal Commission, DEP needs to also use the latest science to put climate and sea level rise in their rules.”
According to a Zillow report, New Jersey has built 4,524 new homes in high flood risk zones. Counties like Atlantic County, Monmouth County have the greatest numbers of homes built in flood zones in the nation. By 2100, there will be 282,354 homes in NJ at risk for flood inundation. Under the current CAFRA rule, counties like Ocean County can have more than 200,000 people living in flood prone areas.
“We’re already seeing the impacts of climate change in NJ. Fish are already living in storm-drains in LBI. Some roads go underwater every time there’s a full moon and we’re losing coastal wetlands at an alarming rate. While sea level is rising and storms are getting stronger, we are still building in the wrong places. There are over 4,000 new homes that have been built in flood prone areas. We must start taking real actions to fight climate change now. Murphy can create a cabinet level committee to coordinate all agencies in coastal resiliency and reducing greenhouse gasses. This includes updating all state regulations to include climate impacts, re-doing the Water Supply Master Plan, and using up-to-date data in our mapping and planning, and buying out flood prone properties,” said Tittel.
Areas near the Delaware and Passaic River are also on flood warning today during the tropical storm. The storm has already caused heavy rain near the Delaware while flood watch expires at 6 a.m. Wednesday for the five northeast counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union).
“In the past, Hurricane Irene and other storms have caused major flooding to inland areas along the Passaic, the Raritan and Bound Brook, Rancocas, and other tributaries of the Delaware. Little Falls and Passaic are some one of the most flood prone area in the country, however the state has done nothing in terms of buyouts and storm management, updating maps, or restoring flood plains. Flooding is getting worse and more chronic. For 30 years we have talked about dealing with flooding on the Passaic River and the need for a comprehensive plan for the region. This plan needs to including funding buy-outs and other programs to reduce flooding. There has to be money set aside to remove bridges and culverts that add to flooding problems as well as building bridges with larger openings to prevent flooding,” said Tittel.
A new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists concludes that more than 800 hazardous Superfund sites near the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at risk of flooding in the next 20 years, even with low rates of sea level rise. More than 1,000 of the sites, overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, will be at risk for flooding by 2100 if carbon emissions continue on their current trajectory, triggering high rates of sea level rise, according to the study. New Jersey is the biggest hotspot for having Superfund sites close to the coastline.
“New Jersey also needs to focus on the severity of flooding and sea level rise near Superfund Sites. This is especially concerning for New Jersey because we have the most Superfund Sites near the coastline. American Cyanamid site in Bridgewater, for example flooded during Hurricane Irene and other Superfund sites like Diamond Alkali Co. in Newark, Ciba Geigy in Toms River, Imperial Chemical in Edgewater, Quantas Site in Bridgewater, Welsbach & General Gas Mantle in Camden, will be at risk of flooding and sea level rise by within the next 20 years,” said Tittel.
The Murphy Administration has yet to reverse many of Governor Christie’s rollback and outdated water regulations dealing with climate change, sea level rise, and chronic flooding. Wetlands protections, flood hazard protections, water quality planning, and stream encroachment rules need to be updated and integrate climate change impacts.
“The Murphy Administration have the tools they can use now to help protect people and their property in flood prone areas. DEP can update FEMA flood maps in flood prone areas and show how these floodplains are expanding. They can change how CAFRA works by limiting development in flood prone areas, getting rid of growth centers that go under water like Mystic Island, preventing clear cutting forests, and limiting impervious cover. The Water Quality Management Planning Rules allows DEP to remove people from environmentally sensitive areas and get rid of sewer service in flood prone areas,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Since Sandy, we have not been stronger than the next storm and our administration has not learned its lesson from the destructive superstorm 8 years ago.”