Voluntary Evacuations Called for by Towns

COURT HOUSE- While the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management has not called for an evacuation, local municipalities are calling for voluntary evacuations.
According to County spokesperson Lenora Bonifonte said as of 3:44 p.m. Oct. 26, the county has not called for evacuation.
“There was discussion this morning about voluntary evacuations on the barrier islands for today and tomorrow changing into mandatory on Sunday,” she said. “Local municipalities are starting to voluntary evacuate.”
A 3 p.m. press conference was suddenly cancelled at the County Emergency Management.
Gov. Chris Christie is expected to make an evacuation announcement Saturday for Cape May County
Middle Township police are asking for a voluntary evacuation in the back bay and Delaware Bay communities. Residents should be prepared for power outages for an extended period of time and plan accordingly with food, water and other miscellaneous supplies.
According to Middle Township police: Hurricane Sandy is forecast to seriously impact our area beginning on early Monday morning with tropical force winds. Conditions are expected to intensify as the storm moves toward landfall sometime Tuesday morning.
Middle Township will experience damaging sustained winds up to or exceeding hurricane strength over a 24 to 48 hour period along with heavy rains. Tidal flooding is expected and may reach 8 feet to 10 feet above normal levels
Residents may call The Middle Township Emergency Operations at 609-463-1833 with any questions during the following hours: Oct. 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and beginning Sunday October 28 at 9 a.m. it will be open 24 hours until further notice.
According to West Wildwood mayor Christopher Fox: “The county has authorized evacuations.” Fox said the county told municipal leaders “they wanted to have voluntary evacuation today (Friday) and tomorrow, but it’s mandatory that as of 9 p.m. Sunday, everybody needs to be gone.”
Fox said the borough has authorized both the voluntary evacuations for the next two days with mandatory evacuation on Sunday. “We have placed it on our website and we did our reverse 9-1-1.”
No matter the path of the storm, the borough is going to get “a lot of water,” said Fox. In terms of evacuation, the mayor said “It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
“We are encouraging residents of our city to evacuate,” said North Wildwood Mayor William Henfey. “We do believe that there will be a mandatory evacuation announced tomorrow (Saturday).
“It’s not just the wind we are concerned about,” said Henfey, “we are extremely concerned about tidal flooding.”
Cape May has has issued a voluntary evacuation for Cape May City, Cape May Point and West Cape May for Saturday. A mandatory evacuation is in place Sunday. City Manager Bruce MacLeod said it is hoped all residents evacuate by 9 p.m. Sunday.
The Avalon Office of Emergency Management has ordered a voluntary evacuation for all residents and visitors in Avalon Friday evening October 26th through Saturday, October 27th. It is possible that this evacuation order may turn into a mandatory evacuation for Sunday, October 28th. Further information regarding the possibility of a mandatory evacuation would likely be announced on Saturday, October 27th.
Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton released the following statement on Friday, October 26.:
“After conferring with state officials Friday morning, the County’s position and the state’s recommendation is that there will be a voluntary evacuation of the barrier island and Delaware Bay communities tomorrow (October 27th) and mandatory evacuation on Sunday, October 28th for barrier islands and Delaware Bay communities. However, if the storm direction intensifies or changes we will modify this directive.”
Hurricane Sandy is expected to bring hurricane-force winds, several inches of rain, and the potential for significant flooding to the Borough of Avalon. Residents and property owners are strongly urged to secure your properties immediately and prepare for the possibility of a mandatory evacuation. It is possible that access to the Borough of Avalon will be impossible for a few, to several days. Landfall is expected to occur near the Delaware Bay late Monday into Tuesday morning.
The Avalon Office of Emergency Management strongly suggests that residents heed the evacuation order and leave the Borough by Sunday afternoon. Last year’s Hurricane Irene event was much different than the approaching Hurricane Sandy. This storm will bring significant rainfall and the potential for coastal flooding that Avalon has never experienced. It is possible that electrical service will be interrupted for several days and travel through the community may be impossible. It is possible the State of New Jersey may issue a State of Emergency which will restrict all travel in our coastal region.
All non-residents and visitors to the Borough of Avalon are being asked to make plans to leave our community by Sunday morning. Boat owners are urged to immediately secure or remove your vessels from the water.
Here are immediate steps that Avalon residents are being asked to follow:
-Put fuel in your evacuation vehicle. Long lines may occur at fuel stations throughout the southern shore region.
-Take essentials with you that would provide sustainability for one week, including one week’s worth of clothing, linens, bedding, and medicines.
-If you have a “safe haven” to visit like a friend or relative’s home, make contact and tell them you are coming.
-Be sure to have cellular phones and computers fully charged and bring chargers with you.
-Secure all objects outside of your property and bring them inside, including trash cans, chairs, tables, and umbrellas.
-If you plan on visiting a shelter, please bring any medicines in their original prescription bottles. Bring your own pillows and linens, and comfortable clothes.
The Borough of Avalon operates its own designated shelter and provides transportation to the shelter in the event the shelter is activated for a mandatory evacuation. If that order is given on Saturday, additional information will be provided. There is information about the Avalon shelter on the Borough’s emergency management website, www.avalonemergency.org.
Avalon Borough Hall will be closed on Monday, October 29th. Trash and recycling collection conducted by Waste Management scheduled to begin on Monday has been suspended until further notice. The Avalon Department of Public Works has a courtesy trash and recycling drop off center at 15th Street and Dune Drive that is open for your convenience.
Avalon will provide continuous updates on its state of the art emergency management website, www.avalonemergency.org; on ShoreTV Channel 2 for Comcast customers; on the Official Facebook Page for the Borough of Avalon; on 1630AM radio; and via reverse 9-1-1 emergency phone calls via Global Connect.