Tropical Storm Fay Makes Landfall In Ocean County, Batters Shore With With Torrential Rains, Flooding
OCEAN CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- Tropical Storm Fay hit the jersey Shore hard on Friday with high wind, torrential rains and flooding. The National Weather Service says Fay made landfall near Little Egg Harbor Inlet in Ocean County around 5 p.m., making it the first tropical system, hurricane or tropical storm to make landfall in New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Many streets looking more like rivers on Friday. The winds were still strong in Ocean City on Friday night, but the shore town is in much better condition than it was this morning.
Pooling in the streets, bubbling water at storm trains and massive amounts of water delaying and obstructing traffic was the norm in the morning.
"This morning, I went out to get some pastries and stuff like that. It was blowing," Mike Hoffman, of Reading, said. "Blew the umbrella inside out and then we walked down to see the waves earlier in the ocean, they were huge."
Roads were flooded and people weren't able to leave their homes.
Many boardwalk shops kept its doors shut as waves were crashing, winds were whipping and no beachgoers in sight.
"Nuts. It's ridiculous man," Marcus Miller of Egg Harbor City said. "I knew it was going to rain but come on. The streets are always flooded so I hope I can leave."
Eyewitness News spotted two surfers looking to catch some waves.
The Pottstown residents say they were in the water on Friday morning, but the waves were so choppy a lifeguard asked them to leave.
"Usually, they're like 2, maybe 3-foot waves," Logan Zerby said, "but I woke up this morning and checked Magicseaweed -- was so stoked to find out there were 5 to 7-foot waves."
"We look forward for the week out and look for the waves to get bigger and bigger," Alex Virag said.
A couple who delayed their wedding several times due to COVID-19 got married in Ocean City on Friday evening as the impact of Tropical Storm Fay was still being felt.
Download The New And Improved CBS Philly App!
Other parts of South Jersey also felt the impacts of Tropical Storm Fay.
There was severe flooding in Avalon and Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Camden was flooded.
"Wind was extremely strong," Joey Ferrell, of Springfield, said. "Probably starting around 7:30 this morning, and it got a little crazy."
Over in Ventnor City, the city dealt with flooding in some loy lying areas.
"Because we have so many dips and the sewage the way it runs, it's really deceiving," Ventnor City Police Chief Douglas Biagi said.
Biagi says Ventnor City Public Works were prepared, placing barricades and barrels in areas prone to flooding. But even some areas that don't normally experience slow drainage were hit.
During breaks in the sky, families were out making the best of it.
"We decided to come out, let the kids see the ocean because it's crazy," Shelby Simmons said, " and just be outside while we can then go back and bunker down later."
So whether playing in a makeshift pool or doing stunts on the boardwalk, it was a nice break to get out of the house. Of course, there was a plan just in case they got caught in the rain.
"He'll take his shirt off and put it on the kids," Emma Magnus said, "and we'll run home because we have the jogging stroller so we're OK."
The heavy winds did cause garbage cans and other small objects to blow away, but so far, there haven't been any reports of injuries or downed trees in the area.
CBS3's Dan Koob, Alecia Reid and Kimberly Davis contributed to this report.
