New Jersey Houses Dangerously Close to Sliding Into River; Residents Forced to Evacuate

New Jersey officials ordered two groups of homeowners to evacuate Wednesday citing the risk of their homes sliding into the Delaware River.
Over the last few days, heavy rainfall has exacerbated preexisting erosion in Florence, New Jersey, and toppled a large tree into the river 70 feet below the homes.

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A large landslide is seen between two homes overlooking the Delaware River Wednesday, April 22, 2015, in Florence, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans )

According to township administrator Richard Brook, the evacuation might be permanent.

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"It would be too unsafe for them," Brook said Wednesday. "It can only deteriorate. It can't get better without man-made help."
Chris O'Dell, who has owned one of the homes for more than a decade, said he realized that, too. "When we walk away, we could be walking away for good and losing everything," he said. "That's hard to take."
His wife, Lynne O'Dell, cried as she spoke. "This is our home," she said. "We put a lot of effort into it. I put a lot of love in this house."
Brook said he believes that an abandoned storm sewer running through the properties was a factor in the ground becoming unstable. He said it is being resealed to try to prevent more water from rushing through.
A Burlington County spokesman said the county engineer is trying to determine what caused the erosion and whether it can be stopped.
Officials said homeowners would be allowed to move things out of the homes but could not stay there overnight.
Brook also said the local government does not want anyone else going near the site.

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