Threat of new flooding puts N.J. officials on alert

Even as residents in many parts of New Jersey still try to cope with damages in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, there are new concerns about more flooding.

All the rain this week has pushed up river levels around the state, according to Larry Ragonese, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. He said, however, he does not expect any new flooding will be as severe as that produced by the hurricane.

“Everywhere in New Jersey that tends to flood has problems with water,” he said. “We’ll be watching for street flooding and some very minor flooding that could cause a few evacuations.”

The biggest concern for additional flooding is in the Passaic River basin.

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“Any water is going to run off and just exacerbate ongoing conditions on any stream or river around the state,” said David Robinson, state climatologist. “So we’ll have to keep an eye out the next couple of days, and then hopefully we’ll get into a period of renewed drying.”

Officials do not anticipate major problems this time at the Trenton Transit Center where an overflowing Assunpink Creek submerged the tracks and disrupted Amtrak and local rail service last week.

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