TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A rain-swollen Delaware River prompted New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine to declare state of emergency for all of New Jersey on Wednesday
1010 WINS reporter Steve Sandberg reports that some backyards in Belvidere, N.J., are like swimming pools and some residents know their homes will be flooded soon. See Photos
In Trenton, more than 1,000 residents left their homes starting Tuesday night, and state workers in office buildings along the river prepared to leave work early. Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer called for water conservation after the debris-choked Delaware forced a shutdown of the city's water filtration system. The mayor said more than two days of drinkable water remained.
On Wednesday afternoon, Corzine declared the limited state of emergency for Warren, Sussex, Hunterdon and Mercer counties and flood watches and flash flood watches remained in place for all but five northeastern counties the day.
National Weather Service meteorologist Valerie Meola said most points on the Delaware River were above their flood stages Wednesday and were expected to crest Thursday.
In Trenton, the river's level reached 21.6 feet at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Flood stage is 20 feet and the river was expected to crest at 27.9 feet by early Friday morning, Meola said. Anything over 25 feet is considered to cause major flooding.
In Warren County, more than 70 people from seven river towns were evacuated, said Pat Rivoli, the county's emergency management coordinator. The water in Phillipsburg was expected to reach 38.8 feet by 2 a.m. Thursday, nearly 17 feet above flood stage.
State police used a helicopter Wednesday afternoon to rescue five people on an island community in the river near Port Jervis, N.Y. Police Lt. Gerald Lewis said the people had not heeded an earlier order to evacuate.
"When we tell these people to evacuate, we really mean it,'' Lewis said.
While the most of the soaking rains had passed through New Jersey by Wednesday afternoon, the worst of the flooding was expected Thursday as swollen waterways in eastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York feed into the Delaware.
From New York state to Virginia, storms and flooding forced thousands of people from their homes and led to the deaths of at least nine people, authorities said.
Four people had died since Tuesday across the Delaware in Pennsylvania. A teenage boy was swept into a spillway in Luzerne County, and as was the man who tried to rescue him. One man's car was washed over a bridge near the New Jersey border while a woman in Gettysburg died in crash after driving through high water.
Photo by 1010 WINS reporter Steve Sandberg
Related Links:
NJ Office of Emergency Management
NJ: Find Flood Information
VIDEO: Flood Waters Soak Pennsylvania
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