Hurricane would place Hoboken under two stories of water
Aug 06, 2009 | 1981 views | 6 6 comments | 14 14 recommendations | email to a friend | print

No, it's not a myth. Tom Jennemann wrote about it in the Hoboken Reporter three years ago (see link below), and as we enter the worst two months of hurricane season again, it's worth looking at.

September 14-18 will be the 10th anniversary of destructive Hurricane Floyd, which caused massive flooding in many New Jersey towns.

Hurricane Gloria in late September, 1984 made landfall in Long Island and Connecticut. Several other storms were hyped in the last two decades but ended up having minimal impact by the time they reached the Garden State.

According to Wikipedia, most hurricanes that impact New Jersey do so in August and September.

Tom Jennemann's article noted:

"Much of Hoboken is only a few feet above sea level, so the streets would be flooded if a hurricane hit our area directly. Such a hit could bring a 10- to 30-foot storm surge that could climb two stories in Hoboken and put the streets, except near Castle Point, under water.

According to the New York City Office of Emergency Management, a major hurricane hits the New York City/ Northern New Jersey area about once every 90 years.

The last big one was the 1938 "Long Island Express," which killed hundreds of people and left 63,000 people homeless. Its center came ashore on Long Island, about 75 miles east of New York City.

While hurricanes that make landfall in the northeast are certainly rarer than those that hit Florida, there are several major disadvantages for the New York/New Jersey area...

Read more HERE.



Comments
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auntie glenda
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August 07, 2009
maybe. i wasn't there. you must be an old coot!
dfetterman
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August 07, 2009
But we didn't see storm water in Manhattan that was two stories high.

This is simply irresponsible exaggeration condoned by an irresponsible press.
AuntieGlenda
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August 07, 2009
Several of the storms caused flooding in New York City, directly across the river, so one would presume Hoboken woudl have been similarly affected and it was. Newspaper accounts talk about Manhattan because they didnt care as much about Hoboken but if you know more you should tell us!
dfetterman
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August 07, 2009
It is not just a scary story, it is largely inaccute, citing locations other than Hoboken as examples. Perhaps the paper should actually do some research on impact Hoboken has faced in the past before printing this trash.
anonymous
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August 07, 2009
Look at what happens to our city when we get heavy rains... Its disturbing to think of a major flood a hurricane could do to Hoboken. Maybe that disaster planning dept in city hall should get on that.
GaryGar
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August 06, 2009
Some may see this as a scare story but I think it is better to prepare then be sorry.