Avalon Teams with Stockton University to Place Flood Sensors

AVALON – Avalon officials joined representatives from the Stockton University Coastal Research Center to place small flood sensors in 15 different locations in Avalon that will calculate the amount of flooding and rainfall the Borough receives during coastal storm and flooding events.  The sensors were placed in strategic locations by Avalon Councilman Richard Dean, the Avalon Department of Public Works, the Avalon Office of Emergency Management, and Stockton University Aug. 28.
“This is an important project for the Borough as we collect scientific data on flooding in our community so we can better plan for future events”, said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi.  “Coastal communities are obligated to consider resiliency options every day, all year long, and this partnership with the Atlantic Cape Coastal Coalition and Stockton University will result in useful data that will greatly assist Avalon in future flood mitigation efforts”.
Flood sensors have been placed in various spots around the Borough, including at key locations along Ocean Drive, two current tide gauges, Avalon Avenue, Dune Drive, at two beachfront street ends, and other locations.  Many of the sensors will not be visible to the public as they have been attached to the underside of storm water grates.  Councilman Dean assisted with the strategic placement of these sensors, called “Hobos”, due to his vast experience with storm and flooding events in Avalon, including the 1962 nor’easter.  Information from the sensors will be downloaded into a special program by Stockton University over the course of at least one year.
Avalon and Longport were both approached by the Atlantic Cape Coalition to partner with Stockton University in this project.  This is the first of its kind public/private partnership designed to collect flood data at the Jersey Shore.  The Coalition is providing funding to this project through the John C. Allen Charitable Trust.
Avalon has achieved a 25 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for property owners in the Borough through the federal government’s Community Rating System.  During the offseason, Avalon will install its 12^th pump station to alleviate nuisance flooding at 78^th Street and Ocean Drive.  Avalon has also authorized an emergency hydrologic study by its engineers in the north end beachfront due to the unusual heavy rain events this past summer. This study should be done with in the next few months and make recommendations to correct the problem of flooding in these blocks.  The County of Cape May will resume a major project next month to alleviate nuisance flooding with additional drainage and a new street surface along a portion of Ocean Drive from 62^nd Street north to 29^th Street.
For more information, please visit www.avalonboro.net.