College Students Watch Helplessly as Floodwaters Explode Through Their Home

Clear Facts

• Severe flash flooding struck Glassboro, New Jersey on August 27, destroying four bedrooms in an off-campus student home near Rowan University
• Dramatic video captured the moment several feet of floodwater burst through glass doors, sending a door panel flying across the room
• The wider southwestern New Jersey region received between 4 and 6 inches of rain, with floodwaters also infiltrating the Rowan University campus

A harrowing video has captured the moment when rising floodwaters overwhelmed a New Jersey college student home, bursting through glass doors with devastating force. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of flash flooding and the vulnerability of communities when severe weather strikes.

The flooding occurred on August 27 as severe storms pummeled Glassboro, New Jersey, just as Rowan University students were preparing to move into their housing ahead of the September semester. Tommy Scirrotto, one of the residents, documented the extensive damage that claimed the entire lower level of their off-campus home.

“The storms in Glassboro, NJ claimed the entirety of the lower level at our home. 4 bedrooms completely flooded, resulting in a huge amount of damage,” Scirrotto said in a GoFundMe post seeking assistance for the displaced students.

The video begins with about an inch of water already seeping into the lower level. As one student approached the French doors, the camera revealed several feet of floodwater building up outside, pressing dangerously against the glass. Towels had been placed along the base of the doors in a desperate attempt to hold back the rising waters.

“This door is gonna break,” a student predicted moments before disaster struck.

Almost immediately after those words were spoken, one of the glass door panels gave way under the immense pressure. The door was sent flying across the room as floodwater rushed inside with devastating force. The deluge quickly overwhelmed multiple makeshift barriers made of laundry that residents had hastily constructed to slow the initial water intrusion.

Photos shared on the fundraising platform showed the aftermath: furniture, beds, and rugs completely submerged in murky floodwater. The four bedrooms on the lower level sustained severe damage, leaving the students facing significant losses just days before the start of the academic year.

The student home wasn’t the only location affected by the severe weather. On the same day, Rowan University issued an urgent warning about severe flash-flooding conditions across the region. The university confirmed that water had “infiltrated” the Glassboro campus itself.

“Several campus buildings have also taken on water,” the university stated in its alert.

“Please exercise caution and stay safe during this severe weather.”

According to data from the National Weather Service, the wider southwestern New Jersey region was hit with between 4 and 6 inches of rainfall during the storm system. The rapid accumulation overwhelmed drainage systems and created dangerous flash flooding conditions across multiple communities.

The incident highlights the increasing challenges Americans face from extreme weather events and the importance of emergency preparedness. For these college students, what should have been an exciting time preparing for the new school year turned into a crisis requiring community support and resilience.

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