National Park Service: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area weather and safety advisory

DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA – NPS park rangers and maintenance staff have been busy this week, first cleaning up after the first significant snowfall to hit our area this year, a task that is still ongoing.

Now, they are prepping for the flooding that comes with heavy rains and significant snow melt.

As of January 2, all winter road and facility closures are in effect. For a full list, click here.

Additionally, the Delaware River and all access points are closed due to hazardous conditions.  Additional closures or delayed openings are possible depending on storm impacts.

“We are expecting high winds, and heavy rainfall, on top of a significant snowfall from earlier this week,” said Bill Tagye who manages the park’s maintenance division. “While we are not expecting any major river flooding during this storm- though that could change- we do expect to see flooding from creeks and streams and from mountainside runoff, and in low-lying areas that are usually susceptible to flooding.”

Maintenance crews will be on duty throughout the storm to respond to issues throughout the park as needed.

“Storms like this, with high winds and several inches of rain, also bring down trees and utility lines, resulting in power outages,” said US Park Ranger Dustin Gunderson, acting Chief Ranger for the law enforcement and emergency services division. “Our top priority during this and any other storm is public and employee safety. In addition to park rangers and maintenance staff working through the storm, our 24-hour emergency communications center will also be up and running.  But we also need people to follow some basic safety tips to help keep themselves safe as well.”

Gunderson suggests:

• Do not drive through flood waters. Driving through flooded roadways can cause your car to hydroplane or become trapped in the high, moving water. Cars can be, and have been, swept away by roadway flooding!
• Do not drive around gates or into closed areas.
• Stash emergency necessities like extra clothes, snacks, water, first aid kits, and blankets in your car. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
• Plan alternate routes. Know several ways to get to and from your destination if you must travel. If you run into a hazard or closure, know your way around to avoid it.
• Make sure your phone and portable batteries are charged. Do not get stuck without a way to call for help!
• Stay up-to-date on the weather ahead of you. Knowing when and where the weather will affect your route can help you avoid the worst of it.
• In an emergency, call our 24-hour emergency communications center at (570) 426-2457 or dial 911.

River levels can be monitored at National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

For more information on Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area call the information desk at 570-426-2452 or visit www.nps.gov/dewa.