UPDATED: Lower Township Damage Less Than Anticipated

VILLAS- Lower Township Manager Michael Voll said damage in the township was not as bad as predicted.
He said the township is in the clean up mode. Voll said public works was assessing damage, cleaning out drains and picking up debris.
A home at Village Road on the bay in Villas lost its deck to high surf.
Voll said there was one to two feet of water in the Lobster House at Schellenger’s Landing. He said power had been restored to most of the township as of 3:30 p.m. Oct. 30 except in the area of damaged of poles near the North Cape May Acme.
Trash and recycling collection has been suspended for the week. Collection will resume Monday, said Voll.
Township Council is considering moving Halloween to Thurs. Nov. 1. due to the continuing State of Emergency declared Christie
Voll said 10 pets were housed in a temporary animal shelter at the county airport.
The Department of Public Works has been authorized for overtime hours for the clean up, he said. Gov. Chris Christie has authorized municipalities to pay for overtime outside of the state’s 2 percent budget cap, said Voll.
He said the Mitnick School did not have power Tuesday afternoon. Voll said the decision to open schools would be up to the superintendents.
Mayor Michael Beck said there was some wind damage to trees in the township and flooding but he was pleased the storm’s effects were not more severe. He said he was grateful to township employees, police, EMS, fire and public works personnel for their hard work.
Some of the flooding was caused by high storm surge blocking outfall pipes. Beck said Cox Hall Creek flood gates were closed at low tide but there was some flooding near the creek due to the severe storm surge.
Photos by Robert Newkirk.