Flooding closes part of Route 17, marking just latest mess after North Jersey storm

North Jersey faced a flooded highway and many roads underwater in the wake of a major storm, days away from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby reaching the region.

Route 17 northbound was closed due to flooding in Hasbrouck Heights as of about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday just south of Route 46, per the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The highway closure marked just one of the problems the region faced in the wake of the storm.

Flooding in North Jersey towns

People needed to be rescued from the floodwaters in multiple towns, including Hillsdale and Hackensack. In Hillsdale a driver purportedly drove around a barricade and got their car stuck at Lafayette Avenue and Glendale Drive, according to the local fire department.

Nick Bond, a spokesperson for Hackensack, said Tuesday night's storms caused major flooding in some areas. “Water dispersed quickly in most areas with only two roadways remaining flooded as of this morning: South Newman Street between Essex Street and Lodi Street, and Lodi Street between Green Street and Kenneth Street,” Bond said. “Additionally, we retract the earlier statement made by one of our departments that the city was nearly 50% flooded. This was incorrect, and the actual flooding was significantly less extensive."

People at the Best Buy in Woodland Park were told to stay inside Tuesday night until water receded, police said. Elsewhere in Woodland Park, two women drove into floodwaters and needed to be rescued, said Mayor Tracy Kallert.

"People need to heed the barricades and not drive through flooded streets," Kallert said. "They put themselves and our first responders in danger."

Hoboken also saw some issues due to storm drains being accidentally paved over. Mayor Ravi Bhalla posted to social media that it was "completely unacceptable." Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said the paving project itself was needed and that any mistakes either have been or will be fixed.

Some towns saw more than 4 inches of rain Tuesday night, including 4.45 inches in Cedar Grove and 3.13 inches in Little Falls, per Bob Ziff of the National Weather Observers.

Check back for more on this developing story.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Flooding in New Jersey closes highway and strands drivers