Flooding Slowly Receding at the Shore

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

KYW's Michelle Durham reports as the Nor'easter slowly makes its way away from the Delaware Valley many South Jersey shore communities are pumping out flood waters and assessing damage.

Atlantic City Emergency Management Director Tom Foley says they are busy taking stock of the damage:

"We had assessment teams going out and taking photographs. I myself went out and saw some additional damage on the boardwalk and to some of our piers in the city; tremendous amount of beach erosion, tremendous. We're estimating just in beach alone upwards of $4 million and property infrastructure another $4 million. It's about an $8 million hit. That's our first guess estimate but we're trying to get the details down now."

Foley wants to acknowledge all of the first responders who have worked around the clock during the storm:

"And I'm glad to see the town was pretty packed Friday night as I went around and looked at the damage. It was rather a good feeling."

KYW’s David Madden reports Jersey Shore residents are weathering the worst flooding to hit the barrier islands since the early 90’s.

You’ve have to feel for guys like Randy Geary, who lives on the bay side of Ocean City along 12th street. He waited for flood waters to recede just enough so he could run to the drugstore because his whole family’s sick:

“I couldn’t get to the one pharmacy because it was over the depth of my boots. And I was finally able to drive through a little bit of water to get up to the high ground and then back to the pharmacy on 9th and Asbury.”

He got his prescription, only to return to a water logged car. He had to walk home.

Officials say several people had to be rescued from their homes with the help of National Guard and fire trucks. Don’t even talk to officials here about the beaches yet. They’re too busy with the flooding, which may take awhile longer to really recede (see previous stories).

KYW's Pat Loeb reports shore officials say conditions are improving. Friday night's high tide brought less flooding than expected.

Streets once again flooded and some were shut down but Tom Foley of Atlantic City Emergency Management says it was not as deep as had been feared:

“The wind started pushing the tides out so we were lucky enough that we were able to get the tides rescinded and it looks like we're going to be okay.”

Foley warns some streets are still flooded and the water is deeper than it looks so motorists should not try to pass.

Shore officials are encouraging people to stay away until floodwaters have receded. Wildwood police captain Robert Riegelbuto says second-homeowners will have plenty of time to assess the damage.

(Photo by KYW’s David Madden)