Stone Harbor Making Sure Everything’s Safe Prior to Permitting Reentry

STONE HARBOR — Hurricane Sandy has departed the Borough of Stone Harbor, and at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 30, the borough was experiencing sustained winds at 30 mph with higher gusts and an air temperature of 48 degrees.
Bands of rain fell here overnight, but most of the rain has left the island. On Monday evening, Stone Harbor experienced a significant amount of flooding throughout the community with many streets becoming impassable.
The National Weather Service posted a Flood Warning Oct. 30 and a Coastal Flood Advisory through early in the afternoon. Stone Harbor received several inches of rain during Hurricane Sandy and the flood warning remains for this morning’s high tide for the potential of street flooding compounded by the heavy rain and high tide event. A High Wind Warning also remains in effect until 3pm Tuesday for winds sustained to 30mph with some gusts to 50 mph still possible.
The Stone Harbor Office of Emergency Management reminds residents and visitors that the mandatory evacuation of our community remains in effect until further notice. Re-entry is not permitted for anyone until the local OEM and Mayor Walters declares the community safe. Stone Harbor Police, firefighters, public works, and emergency officials will conduct a major assessment day today to determine unsafe conditions in the Borough.
“We appreciate the fact that many property owners are anxious to return to Stone Harbor”, Mayor Walters stated.
“We must inspect every street, overpass, and bridge in Stone Harbor along with other important infrastructure. We will allow re-entry into the Borough only when we determine the Borough to be safe, and when clearance is given by State and County emergency management officials.”
“Stone Harbor will inform you of the re-entry procedure on www.stone-harbor.nj.us, on the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company Number One’s Facebook page, and via Global Connect 9–1-1 telephone call. It is impossible to determine at this time when re-entry will be allowed. Various states of emergencies are still in effect by the State of New Jersey and by the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management in our coastal communities in New Jersey, and various highways and roadways continue to be shut down due to flooding and debris.”
Gov. Chris Christie has reopened Garden State Parkway in both directions from Exit 129 south to Exit 0 in Cape May. It had been closed due to problems caused by Hurricane Sandy. Various detours were being reported by the state on Route 47, Route 347, and on Route 49 due to various flooding and debris issues. Please pay attention to traditional media for updates on road conditions outside of the Borough of Stone Harbor.