Photos by STEVE JASIECKI
Erin was unkind to shore towns along the East Coast. Although she stayed well out to sea, the massive storm caused extremely rough surf and high tides.
“King Neptune was upon us,” Margate Fire Chief Dan Adams said Friday morning.
All three Downbeach towns experienced major flooding in low-lying areas during the evening high tide and many people had to be rescued.
Adams said it was a long rough night for first responders, who rescued people from restaurants and vehicles trying to drive through flood waters, including a mother, child and three dogs.
He said there was at least 2 feet of water in the known low-lying areas, including the bayfront area along Amherst Avenue, and Washington and Ventnor avenues.
The water receded overnight, but the Friday morning tide was still higher than normal and caused minor flooding in the usual spots that flood, he said.
Downbeach Public Works departments are on the beach assessing erosion damage.
“The tide was up to the dune at 4:30 p.m. and that was a few hours before the evening high tide,” Adams said. “So there probably is some damage we will have to deal with.”
Following an alarm that went off at Sofia’s on Amherst Avenue, Margate Deputy Chief Patrick Armstrong, who is mayor of Longport and a member of the Beach Patrol, put out a call for Longport’s high water vehicle to come and assist with rescuing about 30 people who were having dinner at the restaurant, Adams said. Margate’s two high water vehicles were helping people in other parts of the city.
“They were mostly older in age and needed assistance,” Adams said.
Four people were evacuated from Tomatoe’s restaurant as well.
All were transported to their homes and there were no injuries reported.
Margate also responded to a gas leak, an underground transformer fire, electrical fire, and seven disabled vehicles containing 18 people.
Adams said certain areas were only accessible by Army surplus high water vehicles.
“Our fire apparatus cannot make it through flood waters,” he said.
Longport Emergency Management Bruce Funk said tides were at 7.5 feet above mean low water, which caused beach erosion at 11th Avenue and where cars turn around at Longport Point.“The streets were flooded but we did a good job warning people in advance,” he said.
He said that municipalities have the ability to issue travel restrictions if it reports to the county and state authorities.
“I think we should get together with Margate and Ventnor OEM coordinators to add travel advisories to our warnings whenever the tide gets that high.”
Despite the flooding in low-lying areas, he said people were out marveling at the breaking waves and “having fun.”
Department of Public Works is out cleaning up streets, he said.
“The beach profile is completely different,” he said.
The storm will push sand into a larger sandbar until southeast winds return it to the beach.
Photographer Steve Jasiecki ventured out and took photos of a completely submerged Dorset Avenue in Ventnor.
Ventnor Mayor Tim Kriebel posted a message on social media saying strong surf and high tides created dangerous conditions, and thanked first responders for their response and residents for their caution.
Friday’s weather will be warmer and sunny, but rough surf and rip currents will continue, which could result in additional flooding through the early part of the weekend.
“Please continue to avoid entering the water and never drive through flood waters, as conditions can be more dangerous than they appear,” he said.
He advised residents and visitors to move their vehicles to higher ground and continue to secure outdoor furnishings.
Numerous Ventnor Heights residents posted complaints on social media about motorists driving through flood waters causing wakes that push water into their homes.
Ventnor resident Jerry Schaffer posted advice to anyone who drives through flood waters that saltwater corrodes wheel bearings, brakes and exhaust systems, and can cause fires in electric vehicles.
Others posted that the high tide caused trash receptacles left on the beach to float into the ocean.
Adams advised anyone who lives in low-lying areas check their homes for flood damage.
“The water was so high it may have gotten into people’s homes,” he said.
He said beaches will be closed to bathers again today, and that any attempts to swim could be disastrous as the sand beneath the water changes with these types of storms and it could take a few days for the sand to smooth out.
“High surf and riptides will be here for the next couple of days,” he said. “Please, please heed the warnings of the lifeguards and never swim at and unprotected beach or afterhours, when most drownings occur.”
Here are a few more pictures of the rescues:
Photos submitted by the Margate Fire Department. Hurricane Erin, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.
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