Tropical Storm Debby and flash flooding threaten parts of New Jersey

FLEMINGTON, N.J. (PIX11)—Having held the position for well over a decade, Hunterdon County’s Director of Emergency Management, Brayden Fahey, knows which areas of the county are prone to flooding.

“Depending on the nature of the flooding, the South Branch of the Raritan River is obviously a flood hazard for us, as is the Delaware River,” said Fahey.

But on Tuesday evening and into the night, the focus is on flash flooding, which could pop up anywhere. Their hope is that if that happens, they can recover from it quickly before their attention turns to what Tropical Storm Debby could bring our way later this week. Just like they do year-round, the agency ensures the county’s swift water rescue teams are ready and equipped, just in case.

“We’re also working with our partner agencies to make sure that should we need to activate shelters that our shelter plan has been activated,” said Fahey. “It’s currently on standby status at this point.”

Meanwhile, in Somerset County, the Raritan River consistently garners attention during heavy rain.

County Commissioner Doug Singleterry urges people to stay safe.

“The best advice I could give people is to stay off the roads,” said Singleterry.

He said the county will take action if levels get too high.

“If we need to close the levees, we will do that,” said Singleterry, “and in all likelihood, we probably will.”

Like many other communities, Manville was set to host National Night Out on Tuesday night. However, the event has been postponed due to the forecast and could be rescheduled for next month.

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