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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy urged residents to be vigilant about rain, flooding and high winds expected from a storm that could result in significant power outages in the Garden State.
The worst of the weather is forecast to hit between Tuesday night and early Wednesday, Murphy told CNN affiliate WABC on Tuesday morning.
“Don’t underestimate this storm; this could be a tough one for us,” he said.
Parts of New Jersey already have ground saturation from previous rainfall, which — combined with melting snow — is cause for concern, according to the governor.
“I would just say to folks: Take this seriously. If it says the road is blocked due to flooding, don’t test that,” Murphy said. “If you hear that you should get out of your home, then get out. Don’t test that either.”
The governor said the state is cooperating with different agencies to become better equipped to fight storms. “It takes time, but frankly, Mother Nature is dragging us along right now,” he said. “We’ve gotta reverse that.”
His warning comes as the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, declared a state of emergency in his city starting at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday in anticipation of a “torrential downpour.”
“We’re coordinating our efforts to ensure the safety of all residents in the city of Paterson,” Paterson Mayor André Sayegh said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
“You have snow that’s melting and then you have rain that’s on the way,” Sayegh said. “So that poses a problem for the Passaic River.”
Officials will issue a flash flood warning this afternoon, immediately close certain streets, and start asking people in flood-prone areas to leave their homes, Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Ayers said at the press conference.
The Passaic is predicted to crest at 9.3 feet, so officials are “preparing for the worst,” Ayers said.
Last month, Sayegh declared a state of emergency as the area was hit with a coastal storm.
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