Here we go again…

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Water Rising

Water Rising on my street

That didn’t take long.  Tropical Storm Lee has some rain over our area today and it’s not due to stop for a few days.  The Passaic River here just FINALLY went below flood stage and now it’s back over again.  At current time it’s just over 8 Feet (7 foot is flood stage here).  We’re due to hit 10.9 feet at the river peak on Friday.

It won’t be “as bad” as the floods from Hurricane Irene, but when you get water in your house, or in the case of some of my neighbors down the street who can’t even leave their house without a boat, it’s always considered “bad”.

This is going to be THREE floods in ONE YEAR.  Hell, it’s going to be TWO FLOODS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!

I wish my neighbors luck, our pumps are already going here.

Willowbrook Mall Flood (It’s not just the food court that smells like fish now)

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Willowbrook Blvd.

Willowbrook Blvd.

 

I went to the mall yesterday but it didn’t look too much different than the first update I did of the flooding at the mall.  So I went there at around 4:30PM EST today to see what it looked like.  I figured I’d be able to get closer to the mall since the water has drastically receded on my street.  I was right.

 

Parking Lot Floods Sign

Parking Lot Floods Sign (Thanks for the warning)

 

I walked around for a little bit looking at the area.  It really felt like I was in some sort of wasteland.  There were some curious drivers looking around but very few, mostly it was just quiet with the odd sound here and there.  I think one of the most interesting images I was able to get was of what appears to be duck feet that walked around the JC Penney Parking Lot.

 

Duck Prints

Duck footprints in the JC Penney Parking Lot

 

There were several rows of them all walking in the same direction.  Pretty neat.

 

I continued to walk, but there really wasn’t too much to see.  The ground was muddy and you can see where the water currents flowed when the river was going through the area.  I think what worries me the most is what I heard from the Passaic County Sheriff’s office.  I was told that water “may have” gone INTO Macy’s.  If it made it inside of the mall that’s going to be one hell of a cleanup.  I’ll continue posting some more of the pictures I took today with whatever captions I have for them now.

 

Costco

Costco

 

Still heavy flooding

Still heavy flooding in the area

 

Willowbrook Blvd. from Rt. 23

Willowbrook Blvd. from Rt. 23

Our favorite flooded SUV

Our favorite flooded SUV

 

So, what are the Vegas odds on that SUV being a case of insurance fraud?

Road damage near Macy's

Road damage near Macy's

 

The residential area road behind Costco

The residential area road behind Costco

 

Yellow dumpster almost swept away

Yellow dumpster almost swept away

 

I’ll try and go back over the weekend and I’ll also see if I can get any news from local authorities on damage as I do so.  So far I’ve spoken with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, and the Little Falls Police.  They have been very friendly and very helpful.

 

On a spot of good news, as I was leaving the mall area at around 5PM they opened Rt. 23 both directions passed the mall.  I don’t know if they have opened Rt. 23 in Cedar Grove yet however.

 

 

 

A Little Video from ABC News on Little Falls Flooding

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Another interesting quote from the mayor is that he didn’t think it would get like this.  Really?  I mean, we haven’t actually had a hurricane in over 100 years….so…he didn’t think it was going to be this bad?

Irene’s Aftermath Willowbrook Mall (Aerial Shot)

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Found this image online of Willowbrook Mall from the sky.  This picture was taken on August 29th before the river crested.  It’s safe to assume it’s much worse today.  The road shown flooded is Rt. 46.

 

 

Aerial Shot of Willowbrook Mall Flood

Aerial Shot of Willowbrook Mall Flood

 

 

Irene’s Aftermath Willowbrook Mall Area Update 2

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So, I made it back there with a better camera (I was using my cell phone before).  Took a bunch more pictures.

 

Fire Oak Restaurant Next to Entenmann's

This is the Fire Oak Restaurant next to Entenmann's. (Formerly Belissimo's)

The ABC News van was driving off of the bridge as we got there, Fox News was still sitting in front of the car wash at the other side of the bridge though.  I walked up as far as I could (which wasn’t as far as I could yesterday).  I still couldn’t get a camera angle to the actual mall itself but I’d only assume it’s pretty bad.  It’s going to take days for it to be able to reopen…and that’s AFTER the water fully drains out.

 

 

 

Rt. 23 at Willowbrook Mall 8/30/11

Rt. 23 at Willowbrook Mall 8/30/11

 

When I got there, Rt. 23 didn’t even look like it existed anymore, it was just a wider and rougher Passaic River flowing across it causing waves as it went down into Hobson.

 

I really wish I could get some shots of the actual mall or Costco for some of my readers here but there is just no way to do it.  Even if I had waders the current is just too strong there to risk walking out into the water.  The people at the buffet behind Hooters have a motor boat to come back and forth, I honestly wouldn’t even want to risk that.

 

Oh, speaking of the buffet behind Hooters….let’s check in on our favorite SUV why don’t we?

 

SUV Under Water

So.....ya think it will be called "Totaled"?

It’s hard to see but, I think it may have moved.  If you squint at the smaller image of it from yesterday in the top right corner you’ll notice that it was on the right side of the sign on the buffet.  Today it’s on the left.  I mean, it could be my camera angle but I heard that the currents have been so strong that some of the houses on the end of the streets here have been moved slightly off of their foundation.  If the current is strong enough to do that…it’s strong enough to move an SUV.

 

I’m just going to post the rest of the pictures I have now, if I can get back to the area tomorrow or when the water goes down a lot more I’ll head over to take more pictures.  As a business owner myself I really feel for the shops and businesses in that area, I know it’s going to be a rough time.  However, I also shudder at the thought of what the homes behind Costco and on Hobson look like.

 

Car Wash and Plumber

Car Wash and Plumber

Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge

PHD Truck

PHD Plumbing Truck and Car Wash

Hobson

Hobson

 

Willowbrook Mall Area

Waves between Hooters and the Car Wash

 

Hooters at Willowbrook

Hooters at Willowbrook