The heavy rain, estimated to be close to 2 inches in our region from the National Weather Service, caused the flooding of several basements. Cherry Hill Firefighters use submersible pumps to bring the water levels down to a safe level, reducing the impact on utilities and the structure. More damaging to the region were the 60 to 65 mph winds. Aside from the typical wires down calls associated with a storm like this, numbering 13 during this storm, firefighters also responded to calls involving significant damage to area structures and buildings.
Firefighters received a call for a structural collapse on Kresson Road, at about 6:00 PM on Saturday night. On their arrival, they encountered scaffolding from the Kresson Road water tower being heavily damaged by the wind. The scaffolding structure had been weakened and wooden planks and ripped portions of large tarps were being blown all over the area, including Kresson Road and the New Jersey Turnpike.
The New Jersey State Police were contacted and the Turnpike was requested shut down between exits 3 and 4, and Cherry Hill Police closed Kresson Road from Covered Bridge Rd. to Browning Rd. until firefighters could better assess the damage and extent of the falling debris. Members of the fire department’s Technical Rescue Team were called out to use sophisticated structural collapse equipment to monitor the water tower structure and the scaffolding. Kresson Road continued to be closed until about 7:00 Am the next day.
During the same period, Cherry Hill Firefighters were called to the Mark 70 Apartment building for numerous reports of a natural gas leak from residents on floors 4 through 18. During the investigation, firefighters found a broken two inch gas main pipe located on the roof that suffered damage when a large 25 by 50 foot section of the roof membrane had been torn away. The natural gas was being drawn into the building by large ventilation fans that normally bring fresh air into the common areas of the building. Public Service Electric & Gas responded to secure and repair the gas leak. Sections of the damaged roof were raining down in the parking and entrance area to the apartment building and Cherry Hill Police were called in to redirect residents to a safer exit.
In all, the fire department responded to about 30 calls during a 12 hour period at the height of the storm. Pictures provided to CHFD by Curt Hudson.
