County: ‘Zero Hour Near, Get Out’

COURT HOUSE – County officials updated the public regarding the enormity of Hurricane Sandy and the effects of her wrath during a press conference held in the county library Oct. 28.
And for those residents of the county’s barrier islands who have chosen not to heed the warning to evacuate, Cape May County Office of Emergency Management Director Marty Pagliughi said, “You may be able to survive the storm on a barrier island…but don’t call an ambulance and don’t call the police department because they will not be able to get you.”
“This is a very dangerous storm,” said Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton “We want as many people along the barrier islands as possible to leave. Those along the mainland, we want them to basically stay in place and do those things that are necessary so they feel they are protected.”
Thornton said the county had been working since Oct. 23 to prepare for the hurricane and continues to maintain contact with state officials, including phone calls from Gov. Chris Christie “every three or four hours.”
“Our issue here is trying to provide essential services,” said Thornton “to make sure the residents of Cape May County and first responders are protected.”
While all county offices, senior centers, parks and the zoo will be closed Oct. 29 and 30, county employees, who number close to 900, are required to report to work to insure necessary staff is in place to respond to the needs of county residents.
Senior citizens comprise almost 23 percent of the county’s population. Seniors have been asked to go to other areas with family and friends for the duration of the storm. Those seniors on the mainland who are homebound were provided with meals through the weekend and shelf-ready meals through Nov. 1.
Sergeant Patrick Gorman of the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management said, “Zero hour is approaching and you need to get out if you are on a barrier island.”
Gorman said the governor came to the county Oct. 27 to warn residents to evacuate the barrier islands. “The governor did not come down here to Cape May County for nothing.”
According to Gorman, state, county and local offices of emergency management are doing everything they can, “But now we need the public to do their job. Heed the warning. Get to a shelter if you are on one of those barrier islands, keep in touch with your office of emergency management for updates. Make our job easier by doing your job.”
Thornton said while all county offices will be closed Mon., Oct. 29 and Tue., Oct. 30, all county employees are required to report for work. The county employs almost 900 people, said Thornton.
“This storm is so dangerous and if we have a lot of damage we want to make sure we have the necessary staff in place in order to respond to the needs of our residents.”
Four shelters have been set up on the mainland for evacuees including two facilities in Upper Township, one in Middle Township and one in Woodbine. According to county officials, approximately 400 people are currently being housed in shelters. A separate medical needs shelter has been set up in the northern part of the county. According to officials, the county’s evacuation shelters are capable of servicing approximately 2,000 evacuees. An animal shelter has been set up in Lower Township along with two trailers capable of accepting evacuees’ pets.
“Many, many people are saying we’re going to stay in place,” said Thornton. “Believe me, when this storm hits we’re not going to have the resources to go in and save people. When the water gets high on the barrier islands and those emergency personnel come off the islands, it’s going to be difficult for us to get back in there. Don’t take anything for granted.”
Pagliguhi said the scope of the storm is over 400 miles wide, with high winds, flooding and torrential rain. “The storm is going to last through several tide cycles,” he said. “The tide is not going out that fast which is going to be compounded with the high tide. The storm is going to stretch through several tide cycles. This tide event is going to be more of a concern to the barrier islands, more so than the rain and the wind event that the mainland is going to see.”
Mainland residents were urged not to drive during the event. Forecasts call for between five to 10 inches of rain and winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. Gorman said residents should stay in their homes because driving in flood waters can be dangerous as water levels may be far deeper than they appear.
“It’s amazing because within our planning strategies and initiatives, we always plan for the worst case scenario,” said the sergeant. “This is the worst case scenario.”