In Jersey, grim tally at 25; 6 still missing
New Jersey’s death toll from the lethal remnants of Hurricane Ida climbed to 25 victims Friday, with six people still missing, Garden State Gov. Phil Murphy said.
“I am deeply saddened to report an additional two fatalities as a result of Tropical Storm Ida,” the governor tweeted Friday morning as the search for victims continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with every family and community mourning a loved one.”
The killer storm brought up to 11 inches of rain in some parts of New Jersey, along with tornadoes and lethal flooding.
“We mourn the loss of those lives,” said Murphy in a “Today” show appearance before heading to visit the storm-ravaged town of Millburn. “This was going to be a very significant, historic rain storm. We’re going to clean up and we’re going to stay together.”
The storm was the state’s deadliest since Superstorm Sandy killed at least 40 New Jerseyans in 2012.
One year earlier, nine people died during Hurricane Irene — most drowning inside their cars as the floodwater trapped them inside. Hurricane Floyd killed six people in 1999.
New Jersey’s death toll from Ida is so far the most reported in any state.
Murphy warned the state’s sad litany of lost lives could increase two days after the storm pummeled the metropolitan area.
“We’re still not out of the woods,” the governor said. “We still have a lot of damage that we’re dealing with, we still have floodwaters that are significantly higher than normal [and] it may be a long road.”