Severe flooding persists throughout New Jersey following Monday’s storm, including in Little Falls where hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate on Tuesday.

The township asked all residents on flood prone streets to evacuate and grab all personal information and keepsakes. The Civic Center on Warren Street opened as a shelter.

Residents that chose to stay in their homes were asked to hunker down overnight.

The Passaic River started to crest. The highest level reported was around 3 a.m. at 10.3 feet. Homes along the Passaic River, close to the Willowbrook Mall are affected. Residents were asked to shut off utilities, gas and electric.

Little Falls Mayor James Damiano says all four pumps are operational and are pumping out 20,000 gallons per minute, but says the river is overflowing at 80,000 gallons per minute.

Damiano says the pumps are running with a risk of burning out but days before Christmas. However, he says those pumps could save neighborhoods and families.