Flood of frustrations: Dog, residents saved from flooded Jersey Shore motel

It’s been a flood of frustrations.

Dramatic video captured the efforts of Jersey Shore firefighters who saved a dog and several people after flood waters swamped a motel during the recent coastal storm.

First responders said that these types of rescues are too familiar for their crews and explain that this is a preventable danger.

Egg Harbor Township volunteer firefighters waded through feet of water to rescue five stranded people and a dog on Monday, Oct. 13 from the Travel Inn Motel on the Black Horse Pike.

“Everything started flipping,” motel resident Jessica Davis said. “There was so much water.”

A similar scenario has repeatedly played out for years during nor’easters and other storms at this same motel as well as two other highly flood-prone motels nearby.

“This happens every time,” Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Fred Spano explained. “We did put out a warning to the motel owners to make sure that they find other arrangements for their first floor tenants.”

According to Davis, workers at the motel came around to their rooms to remind them of the possibility of their rooms flooding ahead of the storm, and urged everyone to find other arrangements.

But, when asked if the motel workers offered any other options for the people staying there, Davis said they did not.

However, Travel Inn Motel owner Dee Patel disputed that claim when she spoke with NBC10 over the phone.

“They don’t want to leave and nobody expecting this much water,” Patel explained.

Davis and a few others are staying in rooms that just got swamped.

“Our entire bottom of our mattress is still wet,” motel resident Javier said. “I can feel that I might get sick. I’ve been getting wet for the last three days.”

Patel said that the rooms have been cleaned since the storm and new mattresses have been ordered.

The motel owner told NBC10 that they’re not accepting any new guests and she doesn’t expect to do so for at least a month.