Broken homes and flooded roads

Torrential rains, gusty winds and melting snow conspired to turn Somerset County and the surrounding counties in New Jersey into a disaster zone on Saturday.

We lost electrical power on Saturday afternoon and spent the night listening to howling winds and horizontal rain tear apart trees. We awoke Sunday morning to find a fallen tree barely missing the neighbour's home.

Bored, my son and I drove around looking for a way out of town. None were to be found. Large, old trees had fallen all over the area overnight. Some had been ripped from the earth, but the wind broke most.

Fallen trees or flooded roads blocked all roadways out of town.

The Millstone River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal merged, spilling over into the surrounding city and roads.

Quite frankly, I felt a little stranded.

River Road, Montgomery Township
River Road, Montgomery Township · 30 October 2012 · Nikon D40 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
Hoover Avenue · 30 October 2012 · Nikon D40 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Earlier this year, in the Spring, we walked by the homes on Princeton Avene and enjoyed the beautiful blossoms on the trees.

There was no way into Rocky Hill from Skillman (Montgomery Township). A fallen tree ( or branches from a tree) blocked access from Washington Street, and Princeton Avenue was also blocked. I drove down Montgomery Road but stopped when I came across a fallen tree on the power lines in one road lane. Rocky Hill had become an island.

58 Princeton Avenue, Rocky Hill

No more. This home on Princeton Avenue and Crescent has lost all its trees. It looks so bare, so naked.

A row of trees provided privacy for the residents of Princeton Village (Blue Spring Road and Princeton Avenue). Not anymore.

Princeton Village, Blue Spring Road · 30 October 2012 · Nikon D40 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Rocky Hill Fire Dept was cutting trees and removing debris from Crescent Avenue. We've walked by the homes on Princeton Avenue and enjoyed the beautiful blossoms on the trees. The house behind the branches has lost all its trees. It looks so bare, so naked.

Crescent Avenue, Rocky Hill · 30 October 2012 · Nikon D40 · 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
Crescent Avenue, Rocky Hill · 30 October 2012 · Apple iPhone 5 ·
Crescent Avenue, Rocky Hill · 30 October 2012 · Apple iPhone 5 ·

Author: Khürt Williams

A human who works in information security and enjoys photography, Formula 1 and craft ale. #nobridge

2 thoughts on “Broken homes and flooded roads”

    1. It certainly seemed like it was a hurricane. 206 South was finally opened today, and I was able to make it to the office. The roadside between Princeton Avenue and Ewing Street was littered with the corpses of the trees that snapped in half or cut because they had fallen on the power lines.

Comments are closed.