Passaic River Reaches Record Crest

More than a dozen roads in, out of and through Montville still are closed at various points and flooding in some parts of town is expected to get worse as the Passaic River at Pine Brook is due to crest at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at a record 24.2 feet—a full foot above a record set in 1903.

The National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service has regularly revised its crest forecast, most recently at 3:17 a.m. While the flood stage still was expected to increase, Montville police said Monday night that the water in town already appeared to be receding.

Montville Police Lt. Rudy Appelmann has said residents should stay off the roads if they can, and should expect detours and delays in the coming days.

The National Guard on Sunday night and Monday . Neighboring Fairfield was shut down.

For pump-outs, information or to report property damage, contact Montville police at 973-257-4300. To report power outages, call the Jersey Central Power & Light Outage Reporting Line, 888-544-4877. There were , while more than 43,000 customers were without power around Morris County, according to a JCP&L esitmate.

Committeeman Scott Gallopo said residents should be aware of the hazards of flooded roads and, with saturated ground, the possibility of more falling trees, branches and downed power lines.

On Sunday and Monday, after Irene had largely moved on, police were busy responding to several incidents that involved people on the roads. Two drivers who didn't heed barricades and were rescued. And on Changebridge Road.

On Sunday night, the Passaic River at Pine Brook was at 22.11 feet. At 22 feet, flooding reaches the southern portions of Montville and Hook Mountain Road is subject to closures.

"It's a historic level," Gallopo said.