New Jersey department of transportation workers try to open drains this morning on Route 295, a major north-south highway, near Bellmawr, N.J. (AP)

Officials say that at least two people have been found dead in New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. A woman in Salem County was the first reported casualty in NJ of the storm earlier this morning, and a man was also found dead in Kearny. Gov. Chris Christie spoke about the woman, and urged residents to not underestimate the flooding and stay inside today: “She left her house, went in her car and was swept away," he said.

The Salem County woman had called 911 after her car had been washed away by a flash flood. The woman, who has not been publicly identified yet, was found dead in her car around 9:30 a.m. According to Jack Burns, director of Hudson County's Office of Emergency Management, a man was found dead shortly after 10 p.m. in Kearny, but no other details have been released about that yet.

David Robinson, the state climatologist, said Hurricane Irene will rank among the largest single rain events in New Jersey history: “I can say unequivocally that this is the wettest month on record in New Jersey. We’re going to shatter the previous record,“ he said.