On Sunday, December 17, a coastal storm system produced heavy rainfall totals reaching more than five inches in some areas of New Jersey. Several rivers overflowed and caused flooding in towns like Lodi, Paterson, Little Falls, Lincoln Park, Pompton Lakes, Dover and Wayne. Evacuations and water rescues were numerous throughout riverside communities.

The American Red Cross New Jersey Region is providing shelter, food, relief supplies, and comfort to those affected by the flooding. A shelter was opened at the Civic Center in Little Falls for anyone needing a place to warm up, charge their devices, or a place to stay.

Red Cross disaster workers are manning the shelter day and night. Volunteers are also out in affected communities assessing the damage and distributing emergency supplies with clean-up kits, water and snacks. This work will continue as waters recede in neighborhoods and people are able to return to their homes.

“I’m glad we had a place to go." 

One of the communities that experienced flooding is in Paterson, where Danaysha Betts and her four children live on Holsman Street. By Wednesday, her street and many others were flooded. Although they live in a second-floor apartment, Danaysha decided it was best for her family to heed evacuation orders.

“We were told we might have to evacuate, and twenty minutes later they were banging on our door,” Danaysha said. “I told my kids to grab some clothes, I grabbed a few things and we left everything else.”

Emergency personnel carried the Paterson mom and her two youngest children through two feet of dirty flood water from her porch to a rescue boat. As she rode in a bus with other evacuees, panic began to set in. She didn’t know where she would go.

Space at relatives’ homes was limited, so she decided to have her two oldest children stay with family but wasn’t sure where she and her younger boys Damire and Kamari, ages 9 and 7, would end up. Danaysha expressed how anxious she felt about her next steps. “Imagine worrying about where you could go and not having any options. I was stressing out.”

Her uncertainty only lasted a short while because Danaysha and her family did have an option. The American Red Cross, along with the County of Passaic, had opened a temporary shelter the night before at the Little Falls Civic Center. The family was transported to the shelter where they were welcomed by Red Cross volunteers.

In a short period of time, they had a corner of the shelter set up with their cots and were eating lunch and settling in. Damire and Kamari made quick friends with Red Cross volunteers, playing card games, coloring, and battling it out in a friendly competition of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Danaysha was able to make several calls to family and friends to let them know they were ok.

In reflecting about her decision to come to the Red Cross shelter, Danaysha said it was the right choice. “I’m glad we had a place to go. It’s nice and quiet here. I’m not sure what we’re going to do after this, but at least we’re out of the cold for now and I’m grateful for you all.”

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like floods and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.