TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s government offices closed early Thursday as widespread flash flooding from summer storms prompted a state of emergency and crippled large portions of the state’s transportation network and public infrastructure.
At 9:22 a.m., a statewide alert was sent to employees advising that all state offices would close at 1:00 p.m. due to a flood watch and worsening weather conditions. “Employees designated as Weather Essential will report for their normal shift and follow any specific reporting instructions,” the message stated. The early dismissal was ordered by Governor Phil Murphy in response to heavy rains and localized flash flooding.
The closure came just hours after Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way declared a statewide State of Emergency, citing “severe thunderstorms, with the potential of flash flooding.” In a public statement, she urged residents to stay indoors and off the roads.
Governor Murphy also posted on social media: “We are anticipating severe storms this afternoon across the entire state with a flood watch issued from 2:00 PM until 6:00 AM tomorrow.”
By mid-afternoon, flooded roadways, overwhelmed drainage systems, and submerged neighborhoods had been reported across multiple counties. NJ Transit experienced delays systemwide, and state officials directed residents to emergency management channels for real-time updates.
Murphy and other Democratic leaders, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill, attributed the surge in flash floods to climate change. “Due to the severe thunderstorms, with the potential of flash flooding, I have declared a State of Emergency across the state,” Way said in her announcement.
Critics on the right and pundits on social media have pointed to other contributing factors beyond weather patterns. New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the U.S., has seen the rapid development of high-density housing and sprawling industrial warehouses over the past decade. Stormwater systems in many towns are reportedly unable to handle the volume of runoff produced by newly paved surfaces.
Environmental advocates and local officials have raised concerns that aggressive development — including affordable housing mandates and warehouse construction — has outpaced stormwater infrastructure planning in suburban and rural communities, leading to increased flooding risks.
Still, New Jersey continues to push an unrealistic housing mandate in the state, ignoring the problems that have created the housing crisis, which is linked to hundreds of thousands of new residents, illegal migrants, allowed into the United States under former president Joe Biden.
The immigration crisis has sparked a housing crisis nationwide.
Mikie Sherrill responded to the housing crisis saying, “We need more housing.”
She continues to blame climate change on recent floods from heavy rains in New Jersey this summer.
