Lambertville suffers worst flash flood in history

The City of Lambertville, N.J., suffered the worst flash flood in its history Wednesday night Sept. 1, resulting in widespread devastation across the city.
Homes and business, in all areas of Lambertville were victims to a number of creeks and streams that overflowed into streets and homes as Tropical Storm Ida, which had recently been downgraded from hurricane status, pounded the city with 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour, for a number of hours.
Over 1,000 homes and businesses were without power, and at least 25 families have been displaced from their homes due to the severity of the flooding.
The city said it is working with the Red Cross to ensure that all displaced individuals are housed. Local business owners like Danny Whittaker and Rose Carbonara of the Lambertville Station and Frank and Jeannie Cretella of Landmark properties have also provided emergency space for residents in need.
JCP&L had been able to restore power to all but approximately 300 homes as of Sept. 6.
Neighbors have come together to help each other, spending countless hours cleaning up mud and debris brought by the rains that filled homes with many inches of water.

Due to extreme debris in the reservoir, residents are advised to boil all water at this time.
The City of Lambertville, Hunterdon County, the State of New Jersey, and the Governor’s office have been working together in addressing one of the worst natural disasters the community has ever faced. Lambertville has been recognized as a significant site within New Jersey’s official disaster declaration, making it eligible for federal funding and support to aid in the rebuild.
Lambertville’s Office of Construction is working to ensure that all residents receive the assistance they will need to rebuild as swiftly as possible. Fees associated with permits will be waived for a period of time as residents work to rebuild all that they have lost.
The City said its No. 1 goal is to provide for the safety of residents and volunteers, adding “An immediate necessary step towards that goal is to remove as much debris as possible. To that end, the City mobilized over 100 volunteers this morning (Sept. 6) to separate debris. This is a critical step that will allow for the County of Hunterdon to secure our State-approved contracts for trash and debris removal. As of this morning, the County is in possession of the Debris Removal Contract for authorization. Without the County’s support, the City of Lambertville could have never mobilized the relief needed to address the amount of debris.
“Together, Lambertville and the County of Hunterdon, as well as the State of New Jersey, will ensure that we get back on our feet.”

---

Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.