Full Notification

The following is an update from the Cranford Office of Emergency Management (OEM) as of 03/05/2024 @ 5:00 PM:

A Coastal low-pressure system will bring moderate to heavy rainfall beginning in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 6^th, 2024 and extending through the morning hours of Thursday March 7^th, 2024.  As of today’s forecast, there is about 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall expected at a rate of ¼ inch to ½ inch per hour during the heaviest rainfall. 

Potentially 1 to 1.50 inches of rain could fall with the following storm system this weekend. Impacts of this event are still somewhat uncertain as it will partly depend on the amount of rain falling during the two rain events that will precede it.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Township has taken precautions, including opening river gates and deploying portable pumps, and has implemented storm response procedures within the public safety and public works departments.  Cranford OEM and on-duty emergency services personnel will continue to monitor weather and river conditions in real-time through the duration of this weather event.

What residents should do:

Residents in flood prone areas should take common sense precautions and monitor conditions if flooding materializes. Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, as the National Weather Service will issue Flood Warnings if conditions materialize. All NWS warnings impacting Cranford will be automatically re-broadcast on Nixle and are available on a variety of weather apps and via local news sources.

If the heaviest rainfall rates occur over the Cranford area, some roadway flooding may occur. Flood prone locations could become inundated with rain runoff. The most likely time for this will be during the overnight hours Wednesday into Thursday.  Should unexpected flash flooding occur on roadways, please do not attempt to drive through roadways that are covered in standing water. Just six inches of water is enough to disable a vehicle and cause life-threatening conditions. 

Recent rains will also result in elevated water tables, so ground water flooding in basements, even outside of flood zones, remains a possibility.

We can protect ourselves and our families with some common-sense preparedness measures.

Residents should report any non-emergency utility problems directly at the contact points below.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UTILITY COMPANIES:

PSE&G 1-800-436-7734
Elizabethtown Gas 1-800-242-5830
New Jersey American Water 1-800-272-1325
Comcast 1-800-266-2278
Verizon FiOS 1-888-438-3467
Verizon 1-800-827-4966

As always, please reserve 9-1-1 for EMERGENCIES ONLY.