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

Posted on September 1, 2011 by NFM

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 (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 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

Still heavy flooding in the area

Willowbrook Blvd. from Rt. 23

Our favorite flooded SUV

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

Road damage near Macy's

The residential area road behind Costco

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.

Irene’s Aftermath Willowbrook Mall Area Update 2

Posted on August 30, 2011 by NFM

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

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

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?

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

Under the Bridge

PHD Plumbing Truck and Car Wash

Hobson

Waves between Hooters and the Car Wash

Hooters at Willowbrook

Willowbrook Mall Area Update Coming Soon

Posted on August 30, 2011 by NFM

Shot of the Willowbrook Mall Car Wash from the opposite side of the bridge

The “long way” walk wasn’t as badly flooded as I had heard so I grabbed a better camera and walked over to the mall area again. I got as far as I could and took a lot more pictures. I have to edit them so I can fit them here on the blog so give me a little while and I’ll post what I can.

I do want to thank the Entenmann’s for giving my sister and I 4 boxes of the crumb top donuts (my favorite!) for free! A great kid was walking around with a cart handing boxes donuts out to anyone that wanted them. He just reached down and handed me 3 and then handed my sister 1.

Update coming soon!

Irene’s Aftermath (Willowbrook Mall)

Posted on August 29, 2011 by NFM

So, I decided to take a walk down to Willowbrook Mall to see how bad the flooding is there.

Could take a nap in the middle of the road on the Rt. 23 bridge to Willowbrook Mall

So, as I’m crossing the bridge (which was closed to vehicle traffic) I took a few pictures of the businesses around Willowbrook Mall.

Car Wash and Hooters outside Willowbrook Mall

It didn’t get any better as we got closer….

Car Wash and Buffet Parking Lot

Wait….wait…wait. Let’s take a MUCH CLOSER LOOK at that picture…….

Hey moron! Pssst...if you were living under a rock...you parked in a FLOOD ZONE!!!

Well, apparently he thought he had a great parking spot. You know, next to the river, in a low lying parking lot, in a spot that floods when someone spits into the river. Very very smart.

So, we move on…a few feet. Rt. 23 and the Willowbrook Mall are now the Passaic River….

Rt. 23 to the Willowbrook Mall

If you’re curious, the sign says something along the lines of “Road Flooded”……Really? Thank you Captain Obvious….

That is a small road that leads to an area where people live. Yes...people actually live down there.

Another update for my parent’s street coming in a few minutes.

~NFM

NoFearMan.com

Face Your Fears….Live Your Dreams

Tag Archives: willowbrook mall flooded

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

Irene’s Aftermath Willowbrook Mall Area Update 2

Willowbrook Mall Area Update Coming Soon

Irene’s Aftermath (Willowbrook Mall)