Flash Flooding Devastates Somerset County, NJ: Fatalities and Home Explosion Reported

Devastating Flash Flooding in North Plainfield

• 🌊 Flash flooding caused major damage in North Plainfield, New Jersey, with cars swept away and large items floating down streets.
• 💔 Sadly, two women died as a result of the storms on Monday, identified as Lubia Estz and Forest Whitlock, after their car was swept into Cedarbrook.
• 💬 A witness recounted hearing one of the victims scream, "I don't want to die," as their car was carried away.

Shipping Containers and Evacuations

• 📦 Neighbors reported seeing three shipping containers float by houses, which were reportedly being used as storage units at North Plainfield Middle School.
• ⚠️ One resident observed the containers moving and realized they had about 15 minutes to evacuate their home.

House Explosion and Gas Leak

• 🔥 A house in North Plainfield exploded and caught fire just before 11:30 PM on Monday due to an apparent gas leak from a ruptured gas line.
• ✅ Fortunately, residents were able to evacuate before the explosion, and no injuries were reported from this incident.
• 🏠 The homeowner expressed gratitude that his family was safe, despite the home being severely damaged.

Ongoing Cleanup and Weather Concerns

• ⚠️ Cleanup efforts continue in Somerset County amidst concerns about dangerous heat and the potential for more storms.
• 🌧️ The ground is already saturated from Monday's rain, raising worries about further flooding if storms occur tonight.