No Guard Troops to Aid County; Plea Continues

COURT HOUSE — “We are John Wayning it,” said N.J. State Police Sgt. Patrick Gorman regarding Cape May County’s defense against Hurricane Irene. 
The press conference, in the county Office of Emergency Management, was the second in as many days to update the public regarding evacuation progress of the Garden State’s southernmost tip. 
“We are utilizing county and municipal resources, because every county is going through similar preparations,” said Gorman, of the state Office of Emergency Management. 
The hurricane may drop as much as seven to 11 inches of rain in the state. One fear he has would be that the hurricane take the path of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 when many inland towns of the state were inundated. 
Frank McCall, Cape May County Emergency Management director, lauded the public for heeding the Aug. 25 mandatory evacuation order. While he could not say with certainty how many have fled the county, an early-morning survey he did indicated many had left the cape. 
Beginning at 8 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Garden State Parkway Exit 98, near Sea Girt, no southbound traffic will be allowed. That includes media vans, said Gorman in response to a queery by a Philadelphia news crew’s inquiry. 
Also, Route 47 and Route 347 will be northbound only beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 26. 
McCall pointed to a projected map with the hurricane’s track, and stated, “We still have challenges ahead of us. There has been no significant change in the track of the hurricane.” 
He added the storm is likely to parallel the county about 8 a.m. Sunday. “That is about four hours earlier than we talked yesterday,” McCall said. 
He cited the county’s extremely large population of senior citizens and those with special needs and functional aid to evacuate. 
All nursing homes in the county have already been evacuated, he said. Some 80 inmates from Cape May County Correctional Center were being transferred to Salem County Correctional Center. That will reduce the inmate population to about 180, which is adequate with on-board provisions for up to three days, said Sheriff Gary Schaffer. 
Pets may be taken with the storm’s refugees, said McCall, since the taking of pets, to many owners, equal to saving their own life. 
A shelter at Woodbine Developmental Center was at capacity as of Friday afternoon, McCall said. As of 3 p.m., three busloads of Wildwood residents had been taken to Woodbine, McCall said. 
There was still room in Rowan University and Cumberland Community College, but they could quickly fill. 
Should more sheltering needs be required Gorman said it may be necessary to look as far as western Pennsylvania or beyond. 
McCall addressed a rumor that Atlantic Electric planned to take areas of the county “off the grid” were false. “There is no indication from them (Atlantic Electric) that they plan to do that,” said McCall. South Jersey Gas intends to keep its utility open in all parts of the county, but service personnel would be repositioned to offshore locations, he added. 
It is likely, in the face of sustained winds of over 75 mph with gusts to 100 mph, that electricity will drop out due to lines snapping or trees falling on power lines. 
Asked how long electric may take to be restored, McCall estimated upward of a week in some areas. 
The storm surge could be three to five feet atop astronomical tides (due to new moon Aug. 28) that are expected to be about six feet above normal. Heavy rains may add an additional foot to that amount, McCall said. 
“Our goal is to have our evacuation completed before Saturday night. That’s a major task,” said McCall. He noted there are many first responders in the county who must remain in place regardless of the storm situation. 
Firefighters in some districts were instructed to be prepared to remain in their fire stations at least until Tuesday (Aug. 30). 
The State Police’s request for National Guard units here has been denied, McCall said. A further call was being made following the press conference to seek aid from the Governor’s Office to get those guard units in place. 
“This is not the time to stay behind,” said McCall. 
Asked when it may be possible to return, McCall said it was “A huge unknown at this time.” 
He also said those who have not yet made plans to leave, should contact their local Office of Emergency Management through their police department. If they are unable to get through there, they may call the county Office of Emergency Management at (609) 463-6570. They will make every effort to ensure safe evacuation for those who need it.