What started as a regular summer evening turned into a nightmare across parts of New Jersey and New York City, as sudden and violent flash floods swept through on Monday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction—and heartbreak.
Among the devastation, two women tragically lost their lives in Plainfield, New Jersey, after being trapped in a car overwhelmed by floodwaters.
A Desperate Fight for Survival in the Water
Witnesses shared chilling scenes from the moment floodwaters surged through Plainfield’s streets.
The victims’ car was reportedly tossed from side to side before being dragged into Cedar Brook—a drainage channel designed to handle storm overflow.
One man told ABC 7 that he heard one of the women scream, “I don’t want to die,” moments before the car was swept away.
A brave bystander smashed a window in an attempt to rescue the trapped women, but the force of the water was simply too much to fight against.
When emergency responders finally reached the submerged car, both women had already died.
“Like a River Rushing Through Town”
Residents were left in shock. Theresa Lee, who lives nearby, told reporters: “It was so flooded, it was like a river going through.
I’ve never seen anything like it.”
At this time, authorities haven’t released much information about the victims.
Police are still working to confirm their identities and have not made an official statement.
First Responders Waded Through Waist-High Waters to Save Dozens
Emergency crews in North Plainfield were pushed to their limits.
Officers and first responders had to wade through chest-deep water to rescue more than 40 people from life-threatening situations caused by the floods.
The storm didn’t just damage homes and cars—up to 50 vehicles were reportedly destroyed.
The National Weather Service had already warned that the storm posed “life-threatening” conditions across the region, and that prediction sadly came true.
Gas Explosion Engulfs a Home, Nearby Houses Evacuated
In another terrifying twist, one home in North Plainfield exploded after a gas line ruptured during the flooding.
Firefighters rushed to the scene to find the house in flames—and four residents trapped inside.
Thankfully, they were all safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
Authorities also evacuated three neighboring homes due to structural concerns after the intense water damage.
A City in Ruins by Morning
By sunrise on Tuesday, the aftermath was undeniable.
Roads were torn apart, chunks of pavement were missing, and debris was everywhere.
Some streets were still underwater—more like rivers than roads—and in a surreal twist, dead fish were seen scattered across the asphalt.
Entire neighborhoods across Union, Essex, and Somerset Counties were left reeling from the destruction.
In response, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency, hoping to mobilize resources to help those affected.
Plainfield Grieves Again After Another Storm-Related Loss
This isn’t the first time Plainfield has been hit hard in recent weeks.
Less than two weeks ago, another storm claimed the lives of two men—Rocco Sansone, 79, and Brian Ernesto Valladares, 25—when a tree fell on their car during a July 3rd storm.
“To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable,” said Mayor Adrian Mapp.
“We mourn with the families and remain committed to strengthening our emergency response to protect residents from future harm.”
NYC Subways Flooded and Airports Delayed as Storm Slammed Five Boroughs
New York City also bore the brunt of the storm.
Flash floods surged through all five boroughs, leading to massive travel disruptions.
Subway cars flooded, forcing passengers to climb onto seats to avoid the rising water.
Air travel wasn’t spared either. Both JFK and LaGuardia airports were hit with major delays for departures and arrivals as the storm intensified across the Northeast.
A Devastating Pattern Emerging
This latest flood disaster in New York and New Jersey came just a week after another catastrophic event in Texas, where at least 132 people died due to flash flooding.
Over 100 people are still missing there, underscoring a growing and deadly pattern of extreme weather across the country.
