Several days of heavy rain throughout the Delaware River Basin culminated with major flooding along the Delaware River from the 28th through the 30th. It was the second or third highest crest on record for the Delaware River along Sussex County. The crest was the second highest on record (since 1955) at Tocks Island (Warren County) and the third highest crest on record at Montague. President George W. Bush declared Sussex County a disaster area. Sporadic periods of heavy rain started on the 23rd, but the most widespread and heaviest rain fell from the night of the 27th into the morning of the 28th. Event totals in Sussex County averaged four to six inches, but storm totals exceeded ten inches in parts of the Upper Delaware Basin in New York State.Governor Jon Corzine declared a state of emergency from the 28th through the 30th. Approximately 1250 homes and businesses in the state were damaged, four were destroyed. Many homes had their basement appliances and furniture ruined. The disaster area declaration made individual and public assistance possible. The entire state of New Jersey was also available for assistance from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Between Mercer and Sussex Counties ten Delaware River bridges operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission were closed. Tolls were suspended on bridges that remained open to ease congestion on the 28th through the 30th. Four bridges were still closed the night of the 29th, three bridges were closed on July 1st, they all were re-opened on the 2nd. Emergency responders told people to not walk into flooded waters because it might contain sewage and other contaminants. Many homes also had oil in their basements from ruptured tanks. There was also concern about persons with individual wells having their drinking water compromised. An explosion of mold and mosquitoes was expected in the wake of the flood. Crops closest to the ground were also impacted by the flood and included cabbage, cucumbers, strawberries, spinach and squash. In Sussex County, twelve homes were damaged in the county by flood waters, ten suffered major damage. Most of the damaged homes were in Montague Township along River Road. About 60 homes in the township were evacuated. People were evacuated from Sandyston Township and five people were rescued from Mashipacong Island. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge in Sandyston Township was closed after chunks of roadway were displaced. Beaches at the Delaware River Water Gap National Recreational Area were closed for three weeks. The Delaware River at Montague was above its 25 foot flood stage from 830 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 345 p.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 32.16 feet at 1015 p.m. EDT on the 28th, the third highest crest on record. Farther downstream in Warren County, the Delaware River at Tocks Island was above its 21 foot flood stage from 906 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 1043 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 33.87 feet at 915 a.m. EDT on the 29th, the second highest crest on record.  The flow from the Delaware River slowed the run-off from the Flat Brook and caused flooding along the brook.The Flat Brook at Flatbrookville was above its 6 foot flood stage from 545 p.m. EDT through 1152 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 6.25 feet at 815 p.m. EDT on the 28th. Actual storm rainfall totals included 6.05 inches at the Sussex County Airport, 5.88 inches in Canistear Reservoir and 4.41 inches at the Andover Airport.

Flood in SUSSEX, NEW JERSEY
From 28-JUN-06 07:30:00 to 30-JUN-06 05:00:00 (EST)
Location: MONTAGUE
Property damage: 600K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER