New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has come under fire for quickly returning to the campaign trail following the Blizzard of 2016, and playing down -- even mocking -- the concerns of New Jersey residents regarding storm damage.
At a town hall meeting in Hookset, New Hampshire on Monday, Christie lashed out at an audience member who asked why he continued to campaign for president in New Hampshire when there was flood damage in his home state from this weekend's blizzard.
"I don't know what you expect me to do? Do you want me to go down there with a mop?" Christie asked sarcastically, a comment he's since said he regrets. The woman told Christie she was receiving photos and videos from friends and family "all over" New Jersey of the flood damage the blizzard caused.
Who's Crazy Now?!? We Love our Crazy Mayor!!! Thanks for your Support!! pic.twitter.com/K5afSkHWPC— Zippy's Bikes (@ZippysBikes) January 26, 2016
Christie said the flooding was limited to a small area.
"There's been one county that's flooded in the state. One county: It was Cape May County; it was the one county that flooded," Christie told her. "So I don't 'know where 'from all over the state' since we have 21 counties."
That's not quite right, though. Coastal flooding was also observed in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which is in Atlantic County, though it did not approach record levels there. Even far northern New Jersey saw water overtop sea walls at high tide on Saturday morning and evening during the height of the storm.
Severe flooding at New Hampshire and Atlantic in Atlantic City. pic.twitter.com/Wsjdd4Z0n2— Jitney Guy (@JitneyGuy) January 23, 2016
Data shows that the blizzard did in fact bring much worse flooding to Cape May County, including towns like Wildwood and Sea Isle, compared to Hurricane Sandy and a major nor'easter in 1962.
For example, Cape May had a peak water level of 8.98 feet above a tidal datum known as Mean Lower Low Water, or MLLW, which is a reference point the National Weather Service uses to measure storm surge and coastal flooding.
This was the all-time highest coastal flood on record at that location — beating flooding seen during Hurricane Sandy and the Ash Wednesday storm of 1962 — according to meteorologist Gary Szatkowski of the National Weather Service.
That being said, looks like Cape May NJ set a new all-time coastal flooding record. Gage hit 8.98' MLLW. #Sandy hit 8.9'— Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) January 23, 2016
Christie is hoping for a good showing in New Hampshire to propel his campaign for the Republican nomination, but trails badly in polls with under two weeks to go before the primary.
Flooding Delaware Avenue North Wildwood #sjjonas #acpress pic.twitter.com/KkH7QMUPEz— Dale Gerhard (@acpressgerhard) January 23, 2016
Current view of JFK in Sea Isle #6abcAction #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/tLwlMqZnqF— Sea Isle Chamber (@SeaIsleChamber) January 23, 2016
In North Wildwood, police tweeted video of chunks of snow and ice flowing through the streets.
The 2000 block of New York Avenue looks like an ice river pic.twitter.com/fYTPuCqLIh— North Wildwood PD (@NorthWildwoodPD) January 23, 2016
Business owners and homeowners are now working to recover after the flooding, and to ensure they receive federal and state assistance to help them rebuild.
The scope of the damage is far smaller than it was after Hurricane Sandy slammed the Jersey Shore in October 2012, but this storm did deliver a punishing blow to thousands of Garden State residents.