As Clouds Roll in, Police Watch Out For Flooding

As heavy dark clouds roll in, Cranford gears up to prevent flooding through the township-maintained Office of Emergency Management.

This council, with police chief Eric Mason serving as its leader, convenes when there's a weather forecast threatening enough to warrant an emergency response – in this case, a flood watch for Union County issued by the National Weather Service.

"We met and we've come up with a game plan for tomorrow," Lt. James Wozniak of the Cranford Police Department said. 

There is potential for heavy rain from tonight into Friday morning, according to the NWS, with new rainfall amounts expected to be less than a tenth of an inch Wednesday night, between three quarters and one inch Thursday and between 1-2 inches Friday.

Wozniak added that a freeze line located in the ground will act as a barrier and help to decrease the risk of overall flooding from river tributaries that run through the township. However it may increase the amount of flooding in residential backyards and other grassy surfaces.

"It kind of hampers the ability for the ground to absorb water," Wozniak said. "I think overall the chance for flooding is minimal."

The long duration of the storm will also help – with the rain volume spread across a few days rather than dumped on the township in a matter of hours.

Throughout the storm, police officers will also be monitoring the water level. River telemetry readings are taken from a gauge sitting on Meisel Avenue in Springfield. If the water rises to a level of concern, police begin taking readings every 30 minutes from a gauge located on the footbridge at Riverside Drive.

If the Rahway River reaches a height beyond 6.1 feet, flood station pumps are used to suck up excess water, said Assistant Engineer Sandra Caceres-Cardenas.