Ahead of the storm, then-governor Christine Todd Whitman declared a state of emergency, prompting school closures. In Vineland, about 3,700 people evacuated from trailer parks. Train service along the Northeast Corridor and NJ Transit lines were canceled for over three days. Rutgers University canceled classes for two days. From April to July, rainfall in New Jersey was 7.14 in (181 mm) below normal, the second-driest for that time period since 1900. In August 1999, then-governor Christine Todd Whitman declared a drought emergency amid the state's fourth-worst drought in a century. Although the state received normal rainfall in the month leading up to Floyd, New Jersey was still in a drought emergency when the storm arrived. On September 15, 1999, a day before Floyd moved through the state, an approaching cold front dropped over 1 in (25 mm) of rainfall, fueled by moisture from the storm. As Floyd moved through state, it dropped heavy rainfall over a 12 hour period in North Jersey. Across New Jersey, the average rainfall total was , with the highest totals in North Jersey. The peak statewide precipitation during Floyd was in Little Falls, which was the highest rainfall total associated with a tropical cyclone in the state since 1950. More than of rainfall occurred in Hunterdon, western Somerset, Morris, Essex, Passaic, and Union counties, with the heaviest totals near the Watchung Mountains. This was equivalent to three months' of rainfall. Water capacity in North Jersey reservoirs were 11% below average ahead of the storm, but within a week of Floyd rose to 11% above average. The storm's heavy rainfall caused flooding along rivers and streams, mostly in the northern half of New Jersey. Record flooding occurred at 18 river gauges, including 10 along the Raritan River basin. In addition to the storm's rainfall, Floyd produced gusty winds. The strongest observed winds in the state occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport, which recorded sustained winds of 44 mph (70 km/h), and gusts of 53 mph (85 km/h). Floyd produced above normal tides along the eastern United States coastline. In Cape May, tides reached above mean sea level, which equates to a storm surge of . Tropical Storm Floyd killed seven people in the state – six due to drowning, and one person in a fatal car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. The combination of saturated grounds and gusty winds knocked over trees throughout the state, some of which fell onto houses.