> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.jcampoli.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why is Bergen County Flooding So Much? - URL: https://www.jcampoli.com/blog/why-is-bergen-county-flooding-so-much/ - Published: 2024-01-09T19:45:21.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T20:16:00.000Z - Author: Ross Campoli - Tags: Bergen County, Homeowner Guides In the last few years, **Bergen County has seen what feels like an incredible increase in heavy rainstorms**. The amount of rain that is falling in these heavy storms is so high, and occurring so quickly that **new areas in Bergen County are flooding that have never flooded before.** We had big rainstorms in the past, but now it's becoming a regular occurrence to get **more than one inch of rain within twelve hours**. These short, violent rainstorms flooded Bergen County in September 2021 with a storm that felt like a part of hurricane season. **The September 2021 storm broke multiple bridges around Cresskill, Tenafly, Demarest, and Englewood.** The damage lasted for months and the reconstruction efforts took years. ![A Cresskill Fire Truck that became swamped during the September 2021 storm](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/swamped_firetruck_1024x1024.jpg) A Cresskill Fire Department truck that became swamped during the September 2021 storm Next, the violent rainstorms showed up in 2022 as summer monsoons that would drop tremendous amounts of **heavy raindrops in violent bursts** that turned the residential streets of Alpine into heavy waterfalls. At the time of this writing, in January 2024, **we are expected to get more than two inches of rain between now and sunrise tomorrow**. ![Wunderground Weather Forecast for January 9, 2024](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/forecast_600x600.png) Wunderground Weather Forecast for January 9, 2024 These rainy conditions wreak havoc on homes and businesses in Bergen County because new areas are flooding that have never flooded before. The heavy winds during these strong rainstorms cause roofs, skylights, and windows to leak, and create even more property damage above ground level. The **property damage from each storm is greater than ever, and is continually expanding**. One of our clients has owned a commercial building for more than 50 years and it flooded for the first time ever during the September 2021 storm. ![J. Campoli & Sons removes damaged carpet and subfloor after flooding.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/juan_logo_1024x1024.png) J. Campoli & Sons removes damaged carpet and subfloor after flooding. ### Why is it flooding so much? We know the source of this flooding - the increased frequency and volume of rainstorms. The factor that is worsening the effects of the rain, and turning it into massive flooding is the **development and infrastructure of Bergen County**. ![A drainage culvert in Cresskill, NJ that was overwhelmed during a storm and created massive flooding](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/swamped_bridge_1024x1024.jpg) A drainage culvert in Cresskill, NJ that was overwhelmed during a storm and created massive flooding **Bergen County is the most populated county in the most densely populated state in the country.** We have a ton of people and buildings crammed into a small space. As that open ground becomes more and more developed, the rainwater has fewer and fewer places to go. **That compounds these heavy rainstorms into massive flooding events.** Simply put, **as new buildings go up, and existing buildings are expanded, there is less free ground for rainwater to soak into the Earth.** ![Flooding damage the morning after the September 2021 storm](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/swamped_truck_zoom_out_1024x1024.jpg) Flooding damage the morning after the September 2021 storm ### Groundwater and Impervious Coverage Groundwater conditions are a very important factor when building new construction or additions on homes and commercial buildings. Because this is so important, building department in Bergen County pays close attention to something called **impervious coverage**. **Impervious coverage is the amount of a building lot that will not allow water to penetrate and soak into the Earth.** Typically impervious coverage is created by compacting or covering the ground in that location. ![Lot coverage calculations on a survey show the amount of built (impervious) coverage vs. free (pervious) space on a lot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/lot_coverage_600x600.png) Lot coverage calculations on a survey show the amount of built (impervious) coverage vs. free (pervious) space on a lot If building lots have too much impervious coverage, they will not allow water to saturate the ground, which will **create damaging runoff conditions for the neighboring lots**. That is why you can see the max allowable amount of 50% impervious coverage on the calculations above. Engineers dictate the flow of rainwater and groundwater around new construction so that the buildings will not create flooding conditions. **This is a major part of construction design and engineering.** ![See arrows for water flow to proposed seepage pit](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/cc/47cc8956-f209-4651-a8b0-a050f85fe34c/content/images/2026/10/rWh3sGm9_600x600.jpg) See arrows for water flow to proposed seepage pit