HURRICANE IRENE AFTERMATH paterson nj flooding

The Passaic River at Little Falls crested at 14.19 feet at 8 a.m. this morning, more than 7 feet above flood stage but more than three feet shy of the record. It is not expected to fall below major flood stage until 8 a.m. Friday.

Earlier this morning, public works employees were marking off the record reach of the water with spray paint. Two blocks away from the river, a fire hydrant was submerged up to its cap. The water stretched to reach an extra property on most streets in the last 12 hours.

Some 400 residents from the peninsula the Passaic makes a sharp turn around are evacuated. Monday some residents at the edge of the floodwater were hurriedly filling sandbags.

Locals who were out this morning said it was the worst flooding ever.

Little Falls administrator Henry Underhill said the evacuated might not be able to get back to their homes until Friday or even Saturday. The National Guard detachment is on hand to help with emergencies such as evacuations and fires, if they happen. But otherwise the town is just helping out by providing shelter at the municipal community center as it does in the floods that strike the northwestern nook of Little Falls.