County Calls for Evacuation of Barrier Islands

NORTH WILDWOOD — With the cancellation of the 3 p.m. Oct. 27 press conference called by the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management, local municipalities were left to their own devices for several hours as they called for evacuations as Hurricane Sandy saunters up the East Coast.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton issued a press release at 5:30 p.m. telling residents of barrier islands to evacuate.
“After conferring with state officials Friday morning, the County’s position and the state’s recommendation is that there will be voluntary evaluation of the barrier islands and Delaware Bay communities, tomorrow (Oct. 27) and mandatory evacuation on Sunday, October 28th for Barrier Islands and Delaware Bay communities,” said Thornton. He added the storm’s direction or intensity may call for changes in the directive.
The hurricane’s path remains unpredictable. Forecasts call for the storm to make landfall anywhere between Southern New Jersey and New York City.
Governor Chris Christie has announced that he will be visiting Cape May County Sat., Oct. 27 to discuss hurricane preparedness. While many states surrounding New Jersey have already declared states of emergency, New Jersey has not yet joined its neighbors in a declaration.
The Herald has learned the governor’s helicopter is scheduled to land in Wildwood’s Maxwell Field at 12:30 Oct. 27. Christie will then hold a press conference at Anglesea Firehouse in North Wildwood at 1:15 p.m.
At 9 a..m Oct. 27, the county issued this statement:
THE THREAT FROM HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO INCREASE FOR OUR REGION. THERE CONTINUES
TO BE A GROWING THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL, RECORD COASTAL FLOODING
AND RECORD INLAND FLOODING AFFECTING OUR REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK. STAY INFORMED FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.