States like New Jersey and Delaware are under coastal flood advisories as a large storm passes through the region. Residents fear that the worst is yet to come.
Officials Issue Safety Warnings Due to Flooding
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With one New Jersey city partially under water already, emergency response teams are urging residents to stay off the roads and wait out the severe flooding. A storm passing through the region has brought heavy rains, but more is expected as Tropical Storm Debby makes its way toward the area.
Fire Department Virtually Cordons Off Entire City
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“Nearly half the city of Hackensack is flooded,” wrote the city’s fire department in a warning online. “Please avoid Hackensack if possible.”
Thousands of New Jersey Residents Without Power
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The fire department asked residents to get off the roads as soon as possible, suggesting drivers should pull over in a local diner to wait out the flooding. Throughout New Jersey, residents are experiencing widespread power outages, and some have left their homes searching for better shelter.
Person Seen Kayaking Through Flooded Streets
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Some residents even took to creative methods of evacuating. In a now-viral video posted online, someone can be seen rowing a kayak down a flooded street. Officials say some areas have floods as deep as ten feet.
Flood Waters Pose Safety Hazards
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The flooding is cause for great concern. Experts from organizations like FEMA say that in moving water no more than six inches deep, an adult can lose their footing. Twelve inches of moving water has the ability to take control of a large vehicle.
Dangers of Driving Through Water
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That’s why driving through areas of standing water is so dangerous, because it is nearly impossible to know how deep the water is from inside a vehicle. According to Consumer Reports, more than 50% of the drowning deaths from flooding happen because a person makes the decision to drive through a flooded area of the road.
Impacts on Public Transportation
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New Jersey residents who rely on public transportation like buses and trains were also affected this week, with train delays and even flight cancellations happening as a result of the heavy rains and flooding.
Locals Fear More Damage Ahead of Debby’s Arrival
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As locals prepare to recover from the current water damage, they fear the worst is still on its way. Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to bring more flooding, tornado risks, and subsequent damage, is still en route to the region.
Debby Has Claimed 8 Lives
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Officials in Delaware and New Jersey are preparing for the continued severe weather, warning of its dangers in press conferences and online posts. So far, the massive storm is responsible for eight deaths.
The Southeast Sees Heavy Rain, Tornadoes
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Areas of the southeast that do not typically see such major storms have been affected, including areas as far inland as the western parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and George getting hit with over six inches of rainfall.
Water Rescues Near Charleston, SC
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Near Charleston, SC, people were desperate for help as first responders did their best to rescue residents who were trapped due to high waters. More than two dozen water rescues in the region were required to evacuate locals.
Shocking Photos Show Damage and Floods
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Photos and videos shared widely across social media platforms show vehicles submerged in water, trees and powerlines knocked to the ground, and devastating damage from high winds and tornadoes.
Several States Under Severe Weather Alerts
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Parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania remain under tornado watches while surrounding states join them with flash flood warnings. The National Weather Services continues to advise caution in these areas for people who must travel, but the recommendation from officials is to stay off the roads and seek shelter if possible.
Tornado Causes Damage in Northern Delaware
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In northern Delaware, a tornado ripped trees out of the ground and pulled roofs off several buildings, and witnesses described the harrowing scene as terrifying. One native Delawarean noted that growing up in the state, they never experienced severe weather, but that it was now a regular occurrence. They attributed the uptick in weather events like tornadoes to climate change.
The Impact of Climate Change
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As far as NASA is concerned, the Delaware resident is correct. A 2021 report explained the science behind the trend.
NASA Explains Global Increase in Severe Weather
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“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report released in 2021, the human-caused rise in greenhouse gases has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events,” NASA explains on its website.
Experts Believe Weather Will Continue to Worsen
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As the effects of climate change become more evident, scientists predict that extreme weather events will become more and more common. Kai Kornhuber, a Columbia University research scientist, confirmed that to the Associated Press last year.
“More Frequent, More Severe”
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“Heat extremes are getting more frequent, more severe; precipitation extremes are getting more frequent, more severe. Fire weather, which is linked to wildfires, is getting more frequent, more severe, more areas that didn’t see these conditions before,” Kornhuber said.
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