View source for Effects of Hurricane Floyd in New Jersey

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{{Infobox weather event
| name = Hurricane Floyd
| image = Tropical Storm Floyd New York Landfall.jpg
| caption = Tropical Storm Floyd over the [[New York metropolitan area|New York Metro]] area
| date = September 16, 1999
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 38
| gusts = 46
| pressure = 997
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1999
| fatalities = 8 total
| damage = 250000000
| areas = [[New Jersey]]
| refs =
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1999 Atlantic hurricane season]]
| related = {{Floyd related}}
}}
[[Hurricane Floyd]] in 1999 was the costliest natural disaster in [[New Jersey]]'s history, until it was surpassed by [[Hurricane Irene]] in 2011. Damage in the state totaled $250&nbsp;million (1999&nbsp;[[United States dollar|USD]]), much of it in [[Somerset County, New Jersey|Somerset]] and [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen]] counties. Seven people died in New Jersey during Floyd's passage &ndash; six due to drowning, and one in a traffic accident. A police lieutenant took his life after coordinating floodwater rescues for nearly 48&nbsp;hours.
Hurricane Floyd struck [[North Carolina]] on September&nbsp;16 and moved up the [[East Coast of the United States]], crossing over much of the [[Jersey Shore]] as a tropical storm. Ahead of the storm, the [[National Hurricane Center]] issued [[tropical cyclone warnings and watches|hurricane and tropical storm warnings]] for the coastline. Following the state's fourth-worst drought in a century, Floyd dropped rainfall across New Jersey, peaking at {{convert|14.13|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Little Falls, New Jersey|Little Falls]]; this was the highest statewide rain from a tropical cyclone since 1950. The rains collected in rivers and streams, causing record flooding at 18&nbsp;river gauges, and mostly affecting the [[Raritan River|Raritan]], [[Passaic River|Passaic]], and [[Delaware River|Delaware]] basins. A [[water treatment]] plant was damaged in [[Bridgewater Township, New Jersey|Bridgewater Township]], forcing nearly 500,000&nbsp;people in Hunterdon, [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]], and Somerset counties to boil water for eight days.
After the storm, the name Floyd was [[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names|retired]] and removed from the Atlantic hurricane naming list. The United States government provided New Jersey with over $277&nbsp;million in disaster related assistance. After floodwaters in [[Bound Brook, New Jersey|Bound Brook]] reached {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}} deep, the [[Green Brook Flood Control Project]] was built to prevent future floods; the section near Bound Brook opened in 2016.
== Preparations ==
[[Hurricane Floyd]] was a long-tracked [[Cape Verde hurricane]] that threatened to strike [[Florida]] for several days, until a turn toward the north occurred. As Floyd turned away from Florida, the [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC) issued various [[tropical cyclone warnings and watches]] for the [[East Coast of the United States]]. On September&nbsp;15, the NHC first issued a tropical storm watch for the entirety of New Jersey's coastline from the [[Delaware Bay]] to the [[New York metropolitan area|New York Metro]] area. Early the next day, this was upgraded to a hurricane warning as far north as [[Manasquan Inlet]], with a tropical storm warning extending northward to New York. These watches and warnings were downgraded and discontinued as Floyd weakened from a hurricane to tropical storm status. Late on September&nbsp;16, the center of Floyd crossed the Delaware Bay and moved up the New Jersey coastline as a tropical storm, less than 18&nbsp;hours after the hurricane made [[landfall (meteorology)|landfall]] in North Carolina.<ref name="tcr">{{cite report|title=Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|author=Richard J. Pasch|author2=Todd B. Kimberlain|author3=Stacy R. Stewart|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL081999_Floyd.pdf|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref>
Ahead of the storm, then-governor [[Christine Todd Whitman]] declared a [[state of emergency]], prompting school closures. In [[Vineland, New Jersey|Vineland]], about 3,700&nbsp;people evacuated from trailer parks. Train service along the [[Northeast Corridor]] and [[NJ Transit]] lines were canceled for over three days. [[Rutgers University]] canceled classes for two days.<ref name="ncdc">{{cite web|title=Heavy Rain Event Report|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|access-date=September 29, 2018|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5722837|archive-date=July 8, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708083150/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5722837}}</ref>
== Impact ==
[[Image:Floyd 1999 rainfall.gif|thumb|right|175px|Rainfall from Floyd in the [[United States]], showing the highest statewide totals in northern New Jersey]]
From April to July, rainfall in New Jersey was {{convert|7.14|in|mm}} below normal, the second-driest for that time period since 1900.<ref name="rain"/> In August 1999, then-governor [[Christine Todd Whitman]] declared a [[drought]] emergency amid the state's fourth-worst drought in a century.<ref name="njem">{{cite web|title=2000 Annual Report|publisher=New Jersey|access-date=October 15, 2018|url=https://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/annual00/oos.htm}}</ref> Although the state received normal rainfall in the month leading up to Floyd, New Jersey was still in a drought emergency when the storm arrived. On September&nbsp;15, 1999, a day before Floyd moved through the state, an approaching [[cold front]] dropped over {{convert|1|in|mm}} of rainfall, fueled by moisture from the storm. As Floyd moved through state, it dropped heavy rainfall over a 12-hour period in [[North Jersey]].<ref name="rain">{{cite conference|publisher=University of Rutgers|author=David A. Paterson|conference=12th Conference on Applied Climatology|pages=265–268|url=https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/robinson_pubs/non_refereed/Robinson_2000_hurricane.pdf|title=Hurricane Floyd Rainfall in New Jersey}}</ref> Across New Jersey, the average rainfall total was {{convert|7.05|in|mm|abbr=on}}, with the highest totals in North Jersey.<ref name="haz">{{cite report|title=State of New Jersey 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan|chapter=Risk Assessment|at=Page 5.8-2|publisher=State of New Jersey|access-date=September 23, 2018|chapter-url=http://www.ready.nj.gov/programs/pdf/mitigation2014b/mit2014_section5-8.pdf}}</ref> The peak statewide precipitation during Floyd was {{convert|14.13|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Little Falls, New Jersey|Little Falls]],{{Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Mid Atlantic United States}} which was the highest rainfall total associated with a tropical cyclone in the state since 1950.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maximum Rainfall caused by North Atlantic & Northeast Pacific Tropical Cyclones and their remnants per state (1950-2018)|publisher=Weather Prediction Center|access-date=October 6, 2018|url=https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcstatemaxima.gif|format=GIF}}</ref> More than {{convert|12|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rainfall occurred in [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon]], western [[Somerset County, New Jersey|Somerset]], [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]], and [[Union County, New Jersey|Union]] counties, with the heaviest totals near the [[Watchung Mountains]].<ref name="ncdc"/> This was equivalent to three months' of rainfall.<ref name="nyt1017">{{cite news|title=After the Flood; With a Billion of Dollars in Damage, New Jersey Will Be Wringing Out a Long Time|author=Steve Strunsky|date=October 17, 1999|access-date=October 15, 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/nyregion/after-flood-with-billion-dollars-damage-new-jersey-will-be-wringing-long-time.html|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Water capacity in North Jersey reservoirs were 11% below average ahead of the storm, but within a week of Floyd rose to 11% above average.<ref name="rain"/> The storm's heavy rainfall caused flooding along rivers and streams, mostly in the northern half of New Jersey. Record flooding occurred at 18&nbsp;river gauges, including 10 along the [[Raritan River]] basin.<ref name="nyt1017"/>
In addition to the storm's rainfall, Floyd produced gusty winds. The strongest observed winds in the state occurred at [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], which recorded [[maximum sustained wind|sustained wind]]s of {{convert|44|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and gusts of {{convert|53|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="tcr"/> Floyd produced above normal tides along the eastern United States coastline. In [[Cape May, New Jersey|Cape May]], tides reached {{convert|7.36|ft|m|abbr=on}} above [[Sea Level Datum of 1929|mean sea level]], which equates to a [[storm surge]] of {{convert|2.6|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="tcr"/>
Tropical Storm Floyd killed seven people in the state &ndash; six due to drowning, and one person in a fatal car accident on the [[New Jersey Turnpike]]. The combination of saturated grounds and gusty winds knocked over trees throughout the state, some of which fell onto houses. Flooding forced about 26,000&nbsp;people to evacuate statewide, about half of which occurred in Somerset and [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen]] counties. Statewide, Tropical Storm Floyd damaged 39,113&nbsp;houses, 2,232&nbsp;apartments, and 2,183&nbsp;businesses; of these, 183&nbsp;homes or apartments and 75&nbsp;businesses were destroyed. Storm-related power outages affected around 616,400&nbsp;homes and businesses, lasting up to five days. About 17,800&nbsp;people, mostly in Somerset County, lost gas service for as long as two weeks after the storm.<ref name="ncdc"/> Severe flooding from Floyd damaged 24&nbsp;dams and destroyed three others: [[Kirby's Mill]] in [[Medford, New Jersey|Medford]], Bostwick Lake in [[Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey|Upper Deerfield Township]], and Spencer Detention Basin Dam in [[Morris Township, New Jersey|Morris Township]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Dam Safety|title=Hurricane Floyd|access-date=September 29, 2018|url=https://www.nj.gov/dep/damsafety/floyd.htm}}</ref>
Statewide damage from Tropical Storm Floyd totaled $250&nbsp;million,<ref name="haz"/> making it the costliest natural disaster on record in the state.<ref>{{cite book|title=Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. 8, June 13, 2000 to June 21, 2000|page=10649|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cT1BOgQ2Ys8C&q=worst+natural+disaster+%22new+jersey%22+floyd&pg=PA10649|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|series=Proceedings and Debates of the 106th Congress Second Session|year=2005|isbn=9780160732515}}</ref> Early damage estimates were as high as $1.1&nbsp;billion.<ref name="ncdc"/> Floyd's damage total was surpassed by [[Hurricane Irene]] in 2011, which caused around $1&nbsp;billion in statewide damage. Irene was surpassed a year later by [[Hurricane Sandy]] causing $30&nbsp;billion in damage.<ref name="haz"/>
===South Jersey and coast===
Along the Jersey Shore, Floyd caused minor [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]] and back bay flooding. More significant flooding occurred in the [[Delaware Valley]] and its tributaries in the state due to heavy rainfall. A man drowned in the [[Salem River]] near [[Pennsville Township, New Jersey|Pennsville Township]]. In [[Haddonfield, New Jersey|Haddonfield]], the [[Cooper River (New Jersey)|Cooper River]] crested at {{convert|3.9|-|1.1|ft|m|abbr=on}} above [[flood stage]]. More than 60&nbsp;people had to evacuate in [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden]], and [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean]] counties, including an elder care facility in Ocean County. The floods closed two bridges and ten roads in the region, including parts of [[U.S. Route 130 in New Jersey|U.S. Route 130]], and damaged a road in [[Woolwich Township, New Jersey|Woolwich Township]]. Downed trees damaged a house in both [[Blackwood, New Jersey|Blackwood]] and [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]].<ref name="ncdc"/>
===Central Jersey===
[[File:FEMA - 370 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 09-22-1999 in New Jersey.jpg|right|thumb|Damage removal in [[Bound Brook, New Jersey|Bound Brook]]]]
In [[Central Jersey]], Floyd's heavy rainfall was a [[return period|1-in-100 year event]]. The rains accumulated in rivers and streams, causing record or near-record flooding at four locations along the Raritan River. In [[Bound Brook, New Jersey|Bound Brook]], the Raritan crested at a record {{convert|42.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} on September&nbsp;16, well above the {{convert|28|ft|m|abbr=on}} flood stage, and exceeding the previous record of {{convert|37.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} set during [[Tropical Storm Doria]] in 1971. In [[Manville, New Jersey|Manville]], the Raritan crested at a record {{convert|27.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}, nearly double the flood stage of {{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The [[Millstone River]] crested at a record {{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}}, more than double the flood stage of {{convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="ncdc"/> Despite being built to withstand a 500-year flood, excessive floodwaters damaged a [[water treatment]] plant in [[Bridgewater Township, New Jersey|Bridgewater Township]].<ref name="nyt1017"/> Consequentially, nearly 500,000&nbsp;people in Hunterdon, [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]], and Somerset counties had to boil water for eight days. Several schools could not reopen until the water flow was restored. Other sewage treatment plants in the region were unable to withstand the rush of water, causing raw sewage to be released into rivers and streams.<ref name="ncdc"/>
The worst flooding damage occurred in Somerset County, where several townships became isolated, and about 75% of the bridges were destroyed or damaged. The floods covered several roads, including [[New Jersey Route 18]]. There was also heavy tree damage in the northern half of the county. In downtown Bound Brook, floodwaters reached a depth of {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The record floods forced nearly 2,000&nbsp;people to evacuate, including nearly 800&nbsp;people from the second-story or on the roofs of their houses. Two people drowned in the city after they refused to evacuate their apartment. More than 200&nbsp;homes were condemned. An electrical malfunction sparked a fire in downtown that destroyed or severely damaged seven businesses.<ref name="ncdc"/> Firefighters had to use helicopters and boats to put out the blaze.<ref name="upi917">{{cite news|work=United Press International|date=September 17, 1999|title=Floyd leaves flooding, fire behind|access-date=October 15, 2018|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/09/17/Floyd-leaves-flooding-fire-behind/4958937540800/}}</ref> Parts of Manville were flooded to a depth of {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}}, which damaged 1,500&nbsp;homes, caused 284&nbsp;homes to be condemned, and forced 1,000&nbsp;people to evacuate. The flooding in [[Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey|Franklin Township]] caused $1.5&nbsp;million worth of damage to the Zarapeth Community Church, where 20,000&nbsp;books were destroyed. When the [[Green Brook]] exceeded its banks, the [[Green Brook Township, New Jersey|Green Brook Township]] Municipal Building was covered with nearly {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on}} of contaminated floodwaters. In [[Hillsborough Township, New Jersey|Hillsborough Township]], flooding from the Millstone and the [[Neshanic River|Neshanic]] rivers flooded 200&nbsp;houses and forced 600&nbsp;people to evacuate.<ref name="ncdc"/>
Downstream the Raritan River, Middlesex County also sustained flooding damage, with more than 30&nbsp;roads closed. In New Brunswick, about 1,000&nbsp;people had to evacuate due to the rising Raritan River, which destroyed the city's police department and municipal court. The flooding damaged 500&nbsp;homes in [[Middlesex, New Jersey|Middlesex]], with a city damage total of $6&nbsp;million. In [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]], three apartment complexes were flooded, and citywide damage was estimated at $5&nbsp;million. The floods damaged more than 100&nbsp;homes in [[Dunellen, New Jersey|Dunellen]]. In [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]], floodwaters closed portions of state routes [[New Jersey Route 35|35]] and [[New Jersey Route 36|36]], as well as six roads in [[Manalapan Township, New Jersey|Manalapan Township]]. The floods washed thousands of industrial drums and barrels into the [[Raritan Bay]] and onto adjacent beaches.<ref name="ncdc"/>
Upstream reaches of the Raritan River caused flooding damage in [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]], where 699&nbsp;homes were damaged and five were destroyed, and two apartment complexes were severely damaged. The floods damaged 5% of the county's roads, and closed three bridges for a period of two months. In [[Lambertville, New Jersey|Lambertville]], the swollen Swan Creek flooded about 100&nbsp;homes and damaged a water pipe, leaving the city temporarily without water service. The city's elementary school sustained $1.1&nbsp;million in damage after it was flooded with nearly {{convert|2|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water; it was closed for 12&nbsp;days. High winds damaged two homes in [[Holland Township, New Jersey|Holland Township]]. In Mercer County to the southeast of Hunterdon County, flooding closed about 85&nbsp;roads, including portions of [[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|Interstate 95]], [[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|U.S. 1]] and U.S. 130, and [[New Jersey Route 33|NJ 33]]. Hundreds of people required rescue after their cars became trapped in the floodwaters. In [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]], the swollen [[Assunpink Creek]] damaged 40&nbsp;homes and three businesses. The [[Shabakunk Creek]] exceeded its banks, damaging nearby homes and business, including a car dealership. High winds damaged the chimney and roof of the Imani Community Church, causing $1.1&nbsp;million in damage.<ref name="ncdc"/>
===North Jersey===
[[File:Floyd1999RadarPANYNJDMP.gif|300px|right|thumb|Animation of Floyd's rainfall in the [[Mid-Atlantic States]]]]
The state's heaviest rainfall from Floyd occurred in urban areas of [[North Jersey]]. Streams and tributaries of the [[Passaic River]] reached flood stage at several locations. In [[Pine Brook, Morris County, New Jersey|Pine Brook]] in Morris County, the Passaic remained above flood stage for nearly five days. The [[Pompton River]] in [[Pompton Plains, New Jersey|Pompton Plains]] crested at {{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}}, or {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} above flood stage, which was its third highest level on record.<ref name="ncdc"/> Three rivers in North Jersey reached record flood levels &ndash; the [[Hackensack River]] at [[New Milford, New Jersey|New Milford]], the [[Saddle River (Passaic River tributary)|Saddle River]] at [[Lodi, New Jersey|Lodi]], and the [[Pascack Brook]] at [[Westwood, New Jersey|Westwood]].<ref name="ncdc2">{{cite web|title=Flash Flood Event Report|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|access-date=October 9, 2018|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5724739|archive-date=July 8, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708083150/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5722837}}</ref>
In North Jersey, two people drowned in their cars in Bergen County.<ref name="ncdc2"/> Two people also drowned in Passaic County.<ref name="ncdc"/> A police lieutenant in [[Cranford, New Jersey|Cranford]] in Union County took his life after coordinating floodwater rescues for nearly 48&nbsp;hours;<ref name="nyt1017"/> the town's police received 750&nbsp;calls related to the floods.<ref name="nyt921"/> [[Urban flooding]] closed roads and entered basements. Gusty winds and saturated soil knocked down hundreds of trees across North Jersey, causing outages to utilities.<ref name="ncdc"/> In [[Rochelle Park, New Jersey|Rochelle Park]], the Saddle River inundated the [[Electronic Data Systems]] building, a data processing center; the outage disrupted service to about 8,000&nbsp;[[automated teller machine|ATM]]s across the United States.<ref name="rochelle park eds">{{cite news| title =  Flood Disrupts Bank Machines Across Country| newspaper =[[The New York Times]]| access-date = December 14, 2008| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E6DD1E3CF933A1575AC0A96F958260| first=Andy| last=Newman| date=September 20, 1999}}</ref> In the same town, flooding in a [[Bell Atlantic]] switching facility cut off phone service to one million customers.<ref name="nyt921">{{cite news| title = No Solace in the New Week as the Storm's Legacies Linger| newspaper =The New York Times| access-date = December 14, 2008| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E3DB1F3CF932A1575AC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all| first=David W.| last=Chen| date=September 21, 1999}}</ref> About 37,000&nbsp;homes lost phone service for four days.<ref name="ncdc"/>
In Morris County, strong winds knocked down hundreds of trees, which damaged dozens of homes. This was some of the worst wind damage in the state. About 90% of [[Harding Township, New Jersey|Harding Township]] lost power when trees fell onto power lines. Floodwaters in Morris County forced about 1,500&nbsp;people to evacuate, and closed dozens of roads, including [[U.S. Route 46 in New Jersey|U.S. 46]] and state routes [[New Jersey Route 10|NJ 10]], [[New Jersey Route 23|NJ 23]], and [[New Jersey Route 53|NJ 53]]. In [[Pequannock Township|Pequannock]], flooding damaged around 250&nbsp;houses, causing an estimated $5.5&nbsp;million in damage. One house collapsed in the flooding, trapping two people and a dog inside; they were all rescued. Floodwaters washed away the Allen Street Bridge in [[Netcong, New Jersey|Netcong]]. The swollen [[Whippany River]] forced 50&nbsp;families to evacuate in [[Morristown, New Jersey|Morristown]].<ref name="ncdc"/> Floods in Bergen County entered the Lodi municipal building, dozens of homes, an elderly care facility, and [[Felician University]].<ref name="nyt1017"/> In Warren County, flooding in an evacuated trailer park in [[Franklin Township, Warren County, New Jersey|Franklin Township]] sparked an electrical fire, leading to an explosion of a trailer. Contaminated floodwaters disrupted public water service in [[Andover Township, New Jersey|Andover]] and [[Hampton Township, New Jersey|Hampton Township]].<ref name="ncdc"/>
== Aftermath==
[[File:Bound Brook debris removal from Hurricane Floyd.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Debris removal in Bound Brook six days after Floyd's passage]]
Following the storm, the name "Floyd" was [[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names|retired]] and removed from the Atlantic hurricane naming list.<ref name="HRD">{{cite book|author1=Gary Padgett|author2=John L. Beven |author3=Free, James Lewis |author4=Delgado, Sandy |publisher=United States Hurricane Research Division |date=April 27, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2018 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B3.html |chapter=Subject: B3) What storm names have been retired? |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |title=Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701194456/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to Floyd's damage in the state, then-President [[Bill Clinton]] declared a [[state of emergency]] on September&nbsp;17, and a day later declared a federal disaster area for nine counties &ndash; Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union. This declaration allowed for emergency funding to be used for debris removal, restoring public facilities, unemployment benefits for storm victims, and public assistance for homes and businesses.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FEMA|title=New Jersey Hurricane Floyd (EM-3148)|access-date=October 8, 2018|url=https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3148}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=FEMA|access-date=October 8, 2018|title=New Jersey Hurricane Floyd (DR-1295)|url=https://www.fema.gov/disaster/1295}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=FEMA|date=September 19, 1999|title=Disaster Aid Ordered For New Jersey Hurricane Recovery|access-date=October 8, 2018|url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/1999/09/19/disaster-aid-ordered-new-jersey-hurricane-recovery}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=FEMA|date=September 27, 1999|title=Flood Victims Eligible for Unemployment Benefits Helping Hand for Those Left Jobless|access-date=October 8, 2018|url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/1999/09/27/flood-victims-eligible-unemployment-benefits-helping-hand-those-left-jobless}}</ref> FEMA &ndash; the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] &ndash; as well as other federal agencies provided over $277&nbsp;million in assistance to New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Briefing: Disaster Aid; Tallying Hurricane Assistance|author=Wendy Ginsberg|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 2, 2000|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/02/nyregion/brieifing-disaster-aid-tallying-hurricane-assistance.html}}</ref>
FEMA opened three disaster recovery centers and three mobile units to provide information about federal assistance, which ultimately assisted 4,241&nbsp;people. Applications for federal assistance ended two months after the storm struck on December&nbsp;17, 1999. By that time, 20,439&nbsp;state residents registered for some form assistance, including $78.7&nbsp;million in loans from the [[Small Business Administration]], over $35&nbsp;million in housing or family assistance, $267,798 in unemployment assistance, and more than $150,000 for crisis counseling. The state received more than $7.5&nbsp;million to repair public facilities.<ref name="fema">{{cite web|title=New Jersey Recovery Assistance Final Update|date=December 17, 1999|access-date=October 8, 2018|publisher=FEMA|url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/1999/12/17/new-jersey-recovery-assistance-final-update}}</ref> FEMA worked with New Jersey to buy and tear down 44&nbsp;flooded homes in Manville.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 29, 2012|title=Flooding Risk Rises Statewide|author=Jill P. Capuzzo|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/realestate/new-jersey-in-the-region-flooding-risk-rises-statewide.html}}</ref>
The New Jersey legislature approved the Emergency Disaster Relief Act of 1999, which provided $60&nbsp;million in emergency funds for residents affected by Floyd, as well as $20&nbsp;million to assist farmers struck by the preceding drought.<ref name="njem"/> The legislature also provided a sales tax refund for residents in flood areas purchasing new vehicles, appliances, heating and cooling units, and other household repairs.<ref>{{cite act |title=An Act exempting from the sales and use tax certain purchases by flood victims of Hurricane Floyd of motor vehicles and equipment, supplementing P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.)|type=Public Law|article-type=Chapter|article=262|number=2219 |date=October 25, 1999|url=ftp://www.njleg.state.nj.us/19981999/S2500/2219_I1.HTM}}</ref> After the storm, officials redrew flood maps to include homes inundated by Floyd.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 8, 2011|title=How Flooding Hurts Home Values|author=Antoinette Martin|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/realestate/how-flooding-hurts-home-values-in-the-region-new-jersey.html}}</ref>
The receding floodwaters left behind a layer of dust on roadways, windows, and cars.<ref name="nyt1017"/> [[KeySpan]] sent 70&nbsp;trucks to repair damaged gas lines.<ref name="nyt921"/> The [[New Jersey National Guard]] delivered nearly 500,000&nbsp;bottles of water to residents along the Raritan River without clean drinking water. During storm cleanup, a building inspector became ill from [[Legionnaire's Disease]].<ref name="ncdc"/> Volunteer organizations provided assistance to state residents. The [[American Red Cross]] served over 143,000&nbsp;meals to more than 2,400&nbsp;families. The [[New Jersey State Bar Association]] provided [[pro bono]] disaster legal service to state residents.<ref name="fema"/>
After downtown Bound Brook was under {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} of floodwaters, the [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] worked with the New York District of the Corps of Engineers to build the [[Green Brook Flood Control Project]]. The $110&nbsp;million project was designed to withstand a 150-year flood. Construction began in 2000 and was finished in 2016.<ref>{{cite report|title=Green Brook Flood Control Project|publisher=New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection|year=2016|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nj.gov/dep/floodcontrol/greenbrookfc.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 11, 1999|access-date=March 7, 2019|title=N.J. town to celebrate completion of $100M flood project|author=Dave Hutchinson|publisher=NJ.com|url=https://www.nj.com/somerset/2016/08/nj_town_to_celebration_completion_of_100m_flood_pr.html}}</ref> The flooding in Bound Brook affected Hispanic immigrants living in crowded homes; after the storm, there were reports of rent gouging and harassment toward Hispanic residents, including late-night housing inspections. In 2003, New Jersey Governor [[Jim McGreevey]] signed into law a bill to prevent landlords from raising rents more than twice the inflation rate within {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on}} of a disaster area. Due to complaints, the [[United States Department of Justice]] sued Bound Brook in 2004, which resulted in a change in the borough's housing policy.<ref>{{cite news|title=The New Crossroads of the World|author=Ford Fessenden|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 27, 2006|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/nyregion/the-new-crossroads-of-the-world-756725.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Immigration Stirs Up Bound Brook, Again|author=Joshua Brustein|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 28, 2008|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/10boundnj.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Briefing: House and Home; Rent Gouging Outlawed|author=Karen Demasters|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 5, 2003|access-date=March 7, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/nyregion/briefing-house-and-home-rent-gouging-outlawed.html}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[List of New Jersey hurricanes]]
* [[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Effects Of Hurricane Floyd In New Jersey}}
[[Category:Hurricane Floyd|New Jersey]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in New Jersey|Floyd (1999)]]
[[Category:1999 in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Effects of hurricanes in the United States|Floyd]]