Saturated lawns from the soaking rains and tropical-storm force wind gusts toppled trees in towns from Morristown to Maplewood to Maywood.
MAYWOOD, N. J. (CBSNewYork) — Gusty winds took down trees and power lines across New Jersey on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Isaias hit the tri-state area. Saturated lawns from the soaking rains and tropical-storm force wind gusts toppled trees in towns from Morristown to Maplewood to Maywood. The storm ransacked the area quickly, so by late afternoon, curious neighbors and their pets were coming out of their homes to check on one another and check out the damage, including debris and branches scattered across streets and yards. Many told CBS2’s Jessica Layton they had a feeling the storm would be the worst they’ve seen in a few years. “A lot of high winds and a lot of rain, but we have such incredible old trees around here that that’s always a shame. As you can tell, a lot of our old trees have fallen, so it’s been somewhat scary. Lost power now for about three hours, but we are Jerseyans, we’re Jersey strong,” said Jhon Velasco, of West Orange. Neighbors were sheltering from the storm when a large three-story home collapsed in Long Branch. The home was under construction on Marine Terrace, just about a block from the beach, when it was demolished by the wind. “It was scary. Honestly, it was scary,” neighbor Mila Shpak said. Shpak rents the house next door. She watched through her window as the home went down. “And the structure was, I don’t know, we thought it was strong. But the powerful, the wind was stronger,” she said. No one was inside the collapsed building and no one was injured in the other home.
