Saturday, December 14, 2024

Search

Governor Reopens Roadways Into Southern Counties at 1 p.m.

 

By Al Campbell

AS of 12:30 p.m. Aug. 28, Gov Christie announced at a press conference roadways to Cape May and three other southern counties will reopen.
COURT HOUSE — As Cape May County residents who evacuated awaited word when they could return Sun., Aug. 28, emergency management officials were equally anxious to lift bans imposed when Hurricane Irene threatened.
County offices are expected to open Mon., Aug. 29 as usual.
At a 9 a.m. briefing with key personnel in the county emergency management center in the library basement, Frank McCall, county emergency management director, told the gathered officials “A lot depends on the conference all with New Jersey State Police Col. Fuentes at 10 a.m.”
He said the county continued to monitor municipal requests knowing well that “The towns want to know when to rescind their emergency proclamations,” he told them.
A complete demobilization will begin as soon as authorized by state emergency management officials.
McCall said officials continue to make damage assessments.
“Our work has just begun,” McCall said.
An early morning assessment “reported back in a favorable fashion,” McCall said. When police, fire and emergency responders are satisfied that their towns are safe for return, and when the state gives consent, repopulation may begin.
McCall said the office is “contemplating that the operational period ends at 6 p.m. (Aug. 28).” As personnel go off duty then, he said, they would not be replaced.
Although many are anxious to return to their properties, McCall said officials wanted to “Think this through carefully and thoughtfully.”
McCall said the draft of the “rescinding order” lacked only adequate signatures to lift the county evacuation order, issued Aug. 25.
“We will not delay the rescinding proclamation,” he affirmed. Freeholder Ralph Sheets’ signature and McCall’s are required to make that proclamation.
All water serviced by N.J. American Water was checked and deemed potable, he said.
Gas and electric operations are returning to normal, although some pockets in the county were still out of power on Sunday morning.
Residents of Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will likely begin returning to the facility on Monday, said Lenora Boninfante, county communications director.
Three dams in northern Cape May County were being constantly monitored for integrity, McCall said. They are located in the Belleplain area.
Persons who are in shelters must remain there until the state approves return.
Sgt. Patrick Gorman, N.J. State Police, detailed to the county as state emergency management liaison noted that his home’s electricity would not be restored until next Sunday. He added he was fortunate to be in Cape May County “Where the good stuff is down here.”

Spout Off

Cape May – The number one reason I didn’t vote for Donald Trump was January 6th and I found it incredibly sad that so many Americans turned their back on what happened that day when voting. I respect that the…

Read More

Dennis Township – The only thing that trump is going to make great again is total amorality, fraud, rape, treason and crime in general. His whole administration will be a gathering of rapists, russian assets, drunks,…

Read More

Avalon – During the Biden presidency and the Harris campaign, the Democrats told us over and over again that the president has nothing to do with, and can nothing about the price of eggs at the grocery store…

Read More

Most Read

Print Editions

Recommended Articles

Skip to content