Floodwaters violently burst through the glass doors of a student home in Glassboro, New Jersey, on August 27, as severe storms brought significant flash flooding to the region. The incident occurred as Rowan University students were preparing to move into off-campus housing ahead of the academic year.
Dramatic video captured the moment the floodwaters, several feet high, breached the doors, sending a panel flying into the room as water rushed in and inundated the lower level. The storms resulted in extensive damage to four bedrooms on that level, according to a resident.
Initially, about an inch of water had seeped into the lower level. As a student approached the glass doors, a significant volume of water was visible on the other side, creating pressure that ultimately led to the breach. Towels had been placed at the base of the doors in an attempt to block the water, and makeshift barriers of laundry were also used to slow the initial flow.
Photos shared online showed furniture, beds, and rugs completely submerged in the floodwaters.
On the same day as the flooding incident, Rowan University issued a warning to students about severe flash-flooding conditions affecting the area. The university also reported that water had infiltrated parts of the Glassboro campus and that several campus buildings had taken on water, urging students to exercise caution.
The National Weather Service reported that the broader southwestern New Jersey region received between four and six inches of rain from the storms.
