On the night of Thursday, September 28th, 2023 the City of Hoboken sent out a press release regarding the heavy rainfall in the weather forecast for Friday, September 29th. The rain has now caused major flooding all around the Hoboken area, and the City is now in a state of emergency. Read on for what to know and how to stay safe during this time in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Updates as of 11:35AM on Friday, September 29th
Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla + the Hoboken Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have declared a State of Emergency for the City of Hoboken in response to heavy rain and flooding impacting most of Hoboken. The SOE is in effect immediately and until further notice.
The heavy rainfall, some of the heaviest coming at this morning’s high tide, created severe flooding throughout the City on Friday, September 29th. Flood pumping stations are operational, and resiliency parks are storing water to the greatest extent possible, but any prolonged severe weather can outpace the capacity of the City’s infrastructure.
The Office of Emergency Management urges all residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. Residents are reminded to not move barricades to drive through flood waters as stranded vehicles can hinder emergency responses. The Hoboken Police Department may issue citations to anyone who moves or drives around barricades.
Read More: Hurricane Prep in Hoboken: A List of To-Dos
The City has been in communication with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson and the Hoboken Public School District will dismiss all students at its regular dismissal time. All afterschool activities have been canceled. The City’s Multi-Service Center will also close starting at 12:30PM due to area flooding.
“My utmost priority, and that of the Office of Emergency Management is the life, health, and safety of our residents,” Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said. “Due to the flooding in Hoboken and throughout the tri-state area, I urge residents to stay off roads and only travel if it is essential, especially during the evening rush hour when we anticipate more rain. I also ask everyone to please not move barricades, and to not walk or drive through floodwaters.”
“This declaration will help our efforts to keep people and property safe through this storm, and beyond,” Hoboken OEM Coordinator Sargeant William Montanez said. “We ask for continued cooperation in those efforts and urge all residents and visitors to avoid all unnecessary travel, do not drive around or move barricades, and do not walk or drive through flood waters.”
Updates as of 9AM on Friday, September 29th
Just before 8:30PM on Thursday, September 28th, the City of Hoboken and the Office of Emergency Management sent out a press release about the weather forecast for Friday, September 29th, 2023, saying that residents should take precautions due to the predicted heavy rainfall of five to seven inches and likely flooding. The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch and forecasts indicate rainfall of up to 14 inches is possible in other parts of the tri-state region.
“The City of Hoboken is preparing for what is expected to be a substantial storm with prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, which will likely cause flooding in low-lying areas of Hoboken,” Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in the press release. “I encourage residents, especially those in garden-level apartments, to take precautions ahead of the storm. I also encourage residents and visitors to avoid driving during periods of peak rainfall when possible. While our flood pumping stations are in operation and our resiliency parks are positioned to store water to the greatest extent possible, the prolonged severity of the weather could outpace the capacity of our infrastructure to keep rainwater off streets. I ask residents to please stay safe, check in on their neighbors, and exercise caution.”
The Office of Emergency Management noted that intense rainfall of greater than 0.8 inches per hour could result in flooding in low-lying areas. Barricades have been deployed near flood-prone intersections, and residents should not walk or drive around barricades or through flooded areas. Residents can report flooded intersections and clogged drain inlets by calling the NHSA Hotline at (866) 689-3970.
Other Important Things to Know
Hoboken is providing a special rate of $5 per 24-hour period in Garages B (28 Second Street) and D (215 Hudson Street) to residents with a valid Resident On-Street Parking Permit or Temporary Parking Permit. This rate will be active through 8PM on Saturday, September 30th, while space is available.
Hoboken residents with disabilities who possess either a handicapped license plate or hang tag for their permitted vehicle may also park in the Midtown Garage (371 Fourth Street) for the same reduced rate.
Discounted garage space is available on a first-come, first-served basis and garages often reach full capacity during significant weather events. Residents are encouraged to follow City’s social media accounts for updates on availability, including the Hoboken OEM Twitter page at @HobokenOEM and the City’s Twitter page at @CityofHoboken.
Street cleaning and all HOP shuttle services have also been suspended for Friday, September 29th.
All outdoor City recreation programs have been canceled for Saturday, September 29th. At this time, indoor and weekend recreation programs will continue as scheduled — but we will let you know if this changes.
See More: Flooding Safety Tips: What to Do if Your Home Floods in Montclair + Beyond
The city advised residents to monitor local forecasts regularly and are encouraged to follow the City’s social media accounts for storm updates including the Hoboken OEM Twitter page at @HobokenOEM, the City’s Twitter page at @CityofHoboken, and the Hoboken Facebook Page here. Residents can also stay updated via Hoboken’s Nixle alerts here.
Residents and property owners can access the City and OEM “Hoboken Ready” website for more information and resources to better prepare for emergency situations here. Learn more about how Hoboken and NHSA prepare for, respond to, and recover from intense rainfall storms here. The Hoboken Girl also has a guide to how deal with flooding in Hudson County, which you can find here.
We will keep you updated as more details come out. Stay in the know by following @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok.
