Ready for the Worst, Hoping It Doesn’t Happen

WILDWOODS – In his opening remarks, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton welcomed over a hundred emergency managers, first responders, planners, local residents and utility companies to the ninth annual Emergency Preparedness Conference at Wildwoods Convention Center. He then remarked that Cape May County is very “vulnerable”… “because it is the sixth most difficult place to evacuate in the country.” The nature of the topography and limited access to multiple evacuation routes in Cape May County are contributing factors to that vulnerability.
Thornton added, “This conference was essential in telling the story to the public that Cape May County went to work immediately to help with both the recovery from Hurricane Sandy and with future mitigation projects that will help prevent damage during future storms.” “Under the leadership of Emergency Management Director Martin Pagliughi, Cape May County continues to take a proactive approach to preparedness and communication not if, but when, the next major storm impacts the Jersey Cape.”
The beginning of hurricane season began June 1. The fact that the conference is held June 3 was no coincidence. Maj. Patrick Callahan, commanding officer of the N.J. Office of Emergency Management, stated that preparedness starts with good networking among responding agencies and civilian utilities, learning lessons from past events, and using what we have learned to educate residents about how to remain safe during extreme weather and other emergencies. He also wanted to emphasize that “communication and situational awareness” and an “all hazards approach” are critical to successfully managing risk and protecting residents.
Martin Pagliughi, county emergency management coordinator, wanted to stress the idea that learning from the past, and communicating those lessons are his goals for this conference. Pagliughi noted that the county has arranged for various recovery and mitigation assistance totaling $44,661,533 following Hurricane Sandy.
“Much of the hard work associated with this storm has been done after the skies cleared and we conducted damage assessment and mitigation opportunities,” he said. He added that much of that money was not available to individual property owners, but was designed to restore county roads, bridges and other public use assets.
Some communities, including North Wildwood, Upper Township, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City are receiving funds for necessary beach and dune projects that provide protection from future storm events. Additional funding is being delivered to the county and its municipalities for hazard mitigation/infrastructure, essential backup generator projects, structure elevation, and a Cape May County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
Pagliughi also spoke about the formation of new volunteer groups including the Cape May County Animal Response Team and the Cape May County Long Term Recovery Group.
Presentations on typical weather patterns and the specifics of what occurred during hurricane Sandy were presented by meteorologists Jim Eberwine, Tom Lamaine and Dan Skeldon of WMGM TV-40.
Exhibitors outside the hall included the NJ EMS Task Force, State Police Urban Search & Rescue, American Red Cross, Cape May County Emergency Management Command Center and mobile command units, Avalon Fire Dept. and Emergency Evacuation Pet Shelter, Atlantic City Electric Co. and the Cape May County Medical Reserve Corps.
Indoor exhibitors included Cape May County Amateur Radio Club, Cape May County Community Animal Response Team, Cape May County Dept. of Aging, Cape May County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 team, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. All exhibiters distributed information concerning their role in the Emergency Management process.
Cape May County offers an information and emergency alert website, www.capemaycountyemergency.net that has education information on weather alerts, shelters, evacuations, power outages, and points of contact. Since Hurricane Sandy, the website has added a new link that provides real-time tide gauges at essential locations throughout the county.