Video shows floodwater blasting through glass doors at a Rowan University students’ home, wrecking the lower level within seconds.
Story Highlights
- Seven Rowan students were displaced after heavy rain flooded their off-campus house in Glassboro, New Jersey.
- Video captured doors caving in as several feet of water rushed inside and damaged the home.
- Rowan University reported flash flooding across campus the same day, with multiple buildings taking on water.
- New Jersey has seen a sharp rise in flash flood warnings, signaling a broader regional trend.
Flood Surge Displaces Students And Damages Home
Local officials and reporters said seven Rowan University sophomores lost housing after heavy rain flooded their off-campus home in Glassboro on Aug. 27. Video from the scene shows water building up outside before the glass doors gave way. Several feet of water then blasted into the lower level, pushing debris across the room and forcing students to flee. The group had just moved in for the fall semester, compounding the stress and cost of the damage.
Rowan University issued an update the same day warning of flash flooding across the region. The school said several campus buildings took on water and urged people to avoid flooded areas and buildings that had been infiltrated by water. Campus police and facilities staff worked to address damage and safety issues. The university’s alerts focused on regionwide flooding and campus conditions rather than the off-campus house’s specific causes.
What The Video Shows And Why It Matters
The students’ video captures a clear sequence: water rising against exterior doors, pressure building, and a sudden breach that sent a panel flying as a surge poured in. That force explains the rapid interior flooding and the immediate threat to anyone nearby. The moment is vivid, but the lesson is simple. When water stacks up against a barrier, the pressure can rise fast. Once the barrier fails, the flow is violent and hard to escape.
Events like this are not one-off shocks. New Jersey has experienced a marked jump in flash flood warnings this summer. State climate data show warnings far above recent monthly averages. More short, intense rain events are hitting paved and built-up areas where water cannot drain quickly. That mix raises risk for basements, first floors, and low-lying streets, especially near small streams and storm drains that back up under stress.
Wider Pattern: Heavier Rain Meets Aging Drainage
Reporters and state experts have warned for years that many New Jersey towns rely on older storm drains and pipes that struggle with today’s rainfall rates. When intense downpours hit, water piles up in parking lots, collects against buildings, and seeks the lowest entry point. Homes with below-grade doors or window wells are vulnerable. This is a known problem in many communities, not just on college campuses or in one county.
Regional scientists also point to a rise in short, heavy rain bursts across the Northeast. These storms overwhelm culverts and gutters, and they turn small problem spots into dangerous ones in minutes. The Rowan flooding day fits that pattern. Campus lots flooded, buildings took water, and nearby housing was hit hard. The shared thread is simple: more water, less time to drain, and infrastructure that has not kept pace with new extremes.
What Students And Owners Can Do Next
Renters can protect themselves by asking landlords about past flooding, drainage, and door or window well seals before signing a lease. Renters can also consider flood coverage for personal items, since standard renter policies often exclude flood damage. Landlords are typically responsible for structural repairs to make a home livable again, while renters must cover their own belongings. Clear plans for sump pumps, backflow valves, and exterior grading can reduce risk for both sides.
Local leaders can push for faster upgrades to storm drains and stricter building rules for below-grade entries. Simple checks help, too. Clearing debris from street inlets before storms, improving yard drainage, and raising critical utilities off basement floors can limit losses. Families, students, and seniors all benefit when towns plan for the water they actually get today, not the rainfall totals that pipes were sized for decades ago.
Sources:
foxnews.com, noticias.foxnews.com, cbsnews.com, today.rowan.edu, northjersey.com
