PASCACK VALLEY AREA, Bergen County, N.J. — A volatile summer weather pattern brought torrential downpours, flash floods, power outages, and a looming heat wave to the Pascack Valley and beyond on Monday, July 14, as emergency alerts poured in from state, county, and local officials.
The National Weather Service extended a Flash Flood Warning through 8:15 p.m. after severe thunderstorms dumped 1 to 2 inches of rain across Bergen and surrounding counties, with more on the way.
Shortly after, Hillsdale residents were advised Pascack Brook had reached Flood Stage 1 or level 3.5. “Prepare for possible flooding. Move vehicles and belongings to higher ground.”
The NWS warning covered southwestern Bergen, as well as Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties in New Jersey, and Staten Island in New York. Local law enforcement reported flash flooding was already occurring in low-lying areas, with dangerous conditions on roads, creeks, and underpasses.
As rainfall intensified, so did the damage. By 7 p.m., more than 8,000 power outages were reported statewide. Orange & Rockland recorded 1,704 outages in Bergen County alone. PSE&G reported another 808 in the county, while Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency.
“Given flash flooding and high levels of rainfall in parts of the state, I am declaring a State of Emergency,” Murphy announced in a social media post. “Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey.”
Adding to the challenge, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and the Board of Commissioners announced the opening of five county-run emergency cooling centers to combat a heat wave expected to follow the storms. The National Weather Service forecast highs in the 90s, with humidity pushing heat indexes even higher.
The cooling centers will operate Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:
- County Administration Building, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack
- Bergenfield Senior Activity Center, 293 Murray Hill Terrace
- Garfield Senior Activity Center, 480 Midland Ave.
- Northwest Bergen Senior Center, 46-50 Center St., Midland Park
- Southwest Bergen Senior Center, 147 Hackensack St., East Rutherford
Pets are allowed in the cooling centers if leashed or crated. Transportation assistance is available by calling 201-394-2882 or 201-404-2535.
Local municipalities also designated libraries, recreation centers, and other public buildings as cooling stations. Residents were encouraged to check with local officials before heading to county sites.
With the week ahead expected to bring additional rainfall and oppressive heat, officials urged residents to remain alert, stay hydrated, and monitor local alerts. Bergen County Department of Human Services reminded residents that heat-related illnesses can escalate quickly, particularly for older adults and those working outdoors.
Pascack Brook, a defining feature of the Pascack Valley, is dammed upstream to form both the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir in Woodcliff Lake and Mill Pond (also known as Silver Lake) in Park Ridge. It once flowed directly into the Hackensack River but now terminates at the Oradell Reservoir.