As tropical storm Debby neared flood-prone Hoboken, many residents rushed to prepare for the upcoming storm. However, during the week of August 6, construction on Park Avenue accidentally paved over a number of storm drains, leaving residents worried.
The National Weather Service forecasted two to six inches of rain and rainfall rates up to one to two inches per hour in advance of the storm. On the same day, a Nixle alert reminded residents to avoid and report flood-prone areas and said that barricades would be positioned near flood-prone intersections. Many residents were concerned about the severe weather, with one Hoboken resident, Dave Radlin, exclaiming that when flooding happens, a sump pump is his lifetime.
Meanwhile, Councilwoman Emily Jabbuor revealed that those living in garden-level apartments, situated between a first floor and basement, may have to worry about rainwater crashing into their homes. She urged residents in need to contact Commissioner Anthony Romano. The councilwoman clarified that while the contractors had answered her calls, the required repairs weren’t addressed.
Jabbour stated two major issues: drains from the blocked sump pumps that flush onto the street and the non-existent curb in multiple places. Jabbuor believes that the County hadn’t taken the concerns seriously and failed to fix the issues, especially considering the impending storm. While 1st Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano shared similar concerns, he reported that the County quickly addressed Ward 1’s problems and ensured that they would be settled. On the other hand, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher shared on the eve of Debby’s arrival in New Jersey: “Just confirmed with Commissioner Romano [who asked County Engineer Malvasi while we are on the phone]. The county will resolve tomorrow – not in time for tonight’s storm.”
Hudson County was responsible for overseeing both the contractor, Smith-Sondy Asphalt Construction Co., and the milling and paving operations of Park Avenue’s 17 blocks. Mayor Ravinder Bhalla wrote to County Executive Craig Guy regarding the current state of Hudson County’s affairs. Bhalla was troubled about the county’s inadequate and late response despite having five days to act. Furthermore, despite the City Engineer reaching out to the Hudson County Engineer, the pre-scheduled meeting was canceled, with ensuing calls and texts ignored. However, Guy claimed that they accommodated the city by starting after a water main project had been completed. That left city officials two years to raise concerns, and the officials were invited to every discussion. When the County officials received notice about the sump drains, they resolved those issues in a matter of days. Guy evoked the project’s necessity as crews worked in temperatures often exceeding over 90 degrees to complete it.
Tropical Storm Debby ultimately caused widespread damage on the eastern U.S. coast, ranging as far north as New York. Millions of Americans were placed under flood watches or warnings, with states south of Virginia ultimately receiving significant flash floods. New Jersey escaped the worst of the storm, and no major flood damage—on Park Avenue or otherwise—was reported in the wake of Debby passing over the city.
Regarding the project’s current progress, a county spokesperson discussed on August 13, “County contractors are still working and are currently up by the Park Avenue Bridge cutting joints. This project should be done next week, weather permitting, and this timeline includes the repairs.” As of the week of August 26, work on the Park Avenue paving project was still ongoing in the form of roving repairs between Observer Highway and 14th Street. Concerned residents should contact Hudson County’s Division of Engineering at 201-369-4340.
