Elizabeth ravaged by floods after Thursday's storms
Homeowners have gotten used to it this summer.
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Union County’s largest city was among the hardest hit by Thursday's storms. Homeowners have gotten used to it this summer.
Fametta Massalay says she spent $15,000 on basement repairs. She doesn’t know how much this damage will cost her on top of that.
“Now my gate is destroyed, water's in my basement," Massalay said. "There's water all over my property. What am I supposed to keep doing? I bought this house. This is part of my retirement plan.”
A single cone alerted drivers before the floodwaters - some choosing to power through on two wheels or four. The neighborhood says although this may have been the highest the waters have risen this summer, it is not a new problem.
“When you get three inches of rain in an hour, it’s got no place to go," said homeowner Jesse, of Elizabeth.
“This is not something that's isolated," said Massalay. "It's happening throughout Elizabeth, but the town leaders are doing nothing about it.”
Hours after the worst of the rain fell on Fay Avenue, tow crews picked up the stranded vehicles left behind. The homeowners say those that try to power through the waters end up making the damage worse for their homes on the corner.
“SUVs feel that they have wings, they can go through this water," said Massalay. "So, as they push through, they create a current. That current rises, it pushes against the house and it creates further damage.”
“I tell them turn around," said Jesse. "The cops have everything closed off around the corner - nobody listens.”
A busy night for tow crews, first responders and neighbors left picking up the pieces from another summer storm.
