Coastal residents in the northeastern U.S. faced persistent flooding as a strong nor’easter battered the shore for a second consecutive day on Sunday, causing widespread power outages in tens of thousands of households. In New Jersey, low-lying neighborhoods were inundated by tidal surges, while wind gusts in Long Island, New York, led to tree collapses damaging homes and utility poles.
Sea Bright, a beach town in New Jersey, experienced recurrent flooding with each high tide, causing properties like Caroline Virenius’ garage to fill with around a foot of water. The slow-moving storm, responsible for the death of a New York City housing authority worker due to a fallen tree on Saturday, was forecasted to persist through Sunday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and perilous surf up to New England.
Unprecedented rainfall, exceeding 10 centimeters in some New Jersey areas since Friday, coupled with a rising ocean, resulted in flooding levels not witnessed for nearly a decade in regions accustomed to handling high water. The nor’easter’s impact, reminiscent of Superstorm Sandy’s devastation in 2012, though far less severe, may be the first of several along the East Coast this fall due to disruptive El Niño weather patterns.
PowerOutage.us reported that over 100,000 customers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic were without electricity at various points on Sunday, primarily in coastal counties from New Jersey to Connecticut. Flight operations were significantly affected, with more than 250 flights canceled at Boston Logan International Airport by late Sunday morning, as wind gusts reached 64 km/h.
The heaviest remaining rainfall was anticipated on Sunday from northern New Jersey to southern New England. Even as the storm weakened gradually, tidal flooding was projected to persist through high-tide cycles on Sunday night. Concerns about coastal erosion were raised as images of waves crashing against sea walls and beaches circulated.
In New York City, streets in the Howard Beach area were partially submerged, but residents continued their routines, including visits for coffee on Sunday morning. Carole Ann Palmer, a North Beach Haven resident in New Jersey, described this flooding episode as the most severe in a decade, witnessing neighbors kayaking through the inundated streets.
Bernard Dowd, navigating tidal waters to reach his Sea Bright residence on Sunday, highlighted the improved preparedness of the community following the devastation of Sandy. New regulations mandating homeowners to elevate their homes post-Sandy, along with the widespread use of sandbags by residents and businesses, helped mitigate the storm’s impact. Dowd acknowledged the community’s proactive measures, contrasting his initial skepticism with the practical benefits realized during the recent storm event.