TOMS RIVER, New Jersey — Severe thunderstorms that swept through Ocean County on Tuesday evening, July 1, brought torrential rain to Toms River, flooding multiple roads and forcing at least one water rescue on Route 37.
In a dramatic video posted by the Toms River Volunteer Fire Company 1, a firefighter is seen carrying a woman to safety after her car was stranded in floodwaters at the jughandle on Route 37, just west of Hooper Avenue, near Dunkin’.
Between 9 a.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service reported over 3 inches of rain falling in the area—more than 3.00 inches (76.2 mm) of intense rainfall that overwhelmed local drainage systems.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office issued multiple flash flood warnings, urging residents to avoid driving and confirming the closures of Irons Street and Herflicker Boulevard due to high water levels. They also shared photos of flooded zones along Route 37, particularly at its intersection with Hooper Avenue, where vehicles were shown pushing through water reaching their bumpers, as captured in video published by Exit 80 Scanner News.
As of Wednesday morning, there was no official update from the Toms River Police Department regarding how many emergency calls were received during the storm or how many rescues had to be performed.
According to the latest forecast, rain is expected to persist throughout Wednesday, with the possibility of additional thunderstorms, keeping the threat of localized flooding high in low-lying areas and along already saturated roads.
