Flooding forces motel evacuations at the Jersey shore

WEST ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Friday's winter storm caused tidal flooding that forced 30 people out of motels near Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The tide rose quickly this morning in Egg Harbor Township.

"All over out here. Especially on the Black Horse Pike," said Danielle Bruce, of Atlantic City. "You couldn't even come down the Black Horse Pike."

In fact, flooding on the Black Horse Pike not only closed the road but forced evacuations of four motels around 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Police say first responders took 30 people to other hotels as they waited for the water to go down.

No injuries were reported.

Atlantic City saw flooding in low-lying areas, too, making travel difficult in the morning.

"I mean, you pretty much know the streets that are going to flood if you're from Atlantic City," said Jeffrey Fauntleroy, of Atlantic City. "You know what streets not to go, especially the inlet. The inlet is crazy."

Atlantic City officials say the worst of the flooding is over.

Now comes the cold.

"We are expecting very frigid conditions, it's going to be below freezing tonight, close to five degrees with the wind chills," said Emergency Management Director Scott Evans. "We've been salting the roads since the flood started to recede."

After a few flurries, the sun came out in the afternoon, but the bitter winds battered shoppers who were out trying to run some holiday errands.

"It's a little windy. It gets rainy and then it stops and then it is sunny somehow. I don't know what to do," said 10-year-old Heziah Hamilton of Yeadon, who was shopping in Atlantic City with her grandmother.

"It's supposed to be going down to like eleven, in some places four. So yeah we're gonna layer up and try to celebrate the holiday," said Donna.

Cape May County emergency management officials reported minor flooding overnight and scattered power outages.