CAPE MAY POINT- The borough did “remarkably well” during Hurricane Sandy, according to Borough Administrator Connie Mahon.
“Our beaches suffered very little damage,” she said. “The infrastructure we put into place worked to its expectations.”
“We think the Army Corps and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Coastal Engineering did a fabulous job designing our beaches and fortifying our beaches,” Mahon continued.
She said the borough experienced very minimal water in the streets. The water level of Lake Lily was pumped down throughout the storm and never overflowed.
Lake Lily drained through Drainage West which has a backup generator that failed, said Mahon. She said she was able to rent a similar generator the night before the storm. Drainage West sends water into Delaware Bay.
Mahon said 1.2 million gallons per hour was pumped from Lake Lily for a period of over 24 hours, said Mahon.
The borough’s other drainage system, Drainage East, which drains into the Lower Cape May Meadows, is completely blocked by sand. She said the “duckbill” outfall pipe is buried under as much as 100 feet of sand.
Mahon said the water level in the Lower Cape May Meadows affects Lake Lilly which has the ability to flood the entire town.
The borough lost power for a nine hour stretch but was restored within two days.
“We’re very, very lucky and all thanks to all the preparation that when in many years prior to this,” said Mahon.
She said the foresight of many helped save the borough from the storm’s wrath.
Mahon acknowledged Dick Miller who fortified sand dunes with old Christmas trees years ago, Meghan Smith who initiated contact with DEP for federal beach replenishment and Congressman Frank LoBiondo and Senator Frank Lautenberg.
“I think the dunes are what saved Cape May Point,” said Mahon.
She said the borough had not scheduled a special trash collection for debris “because we don’t need one.”
At one point, Hurricane Sandy was on a path for a direct hit on Cape May Point.
“All of a sudden, it made a right turn and went towards Atlantic City,” said Mahon.
She quoted Gov. Chris Christie who commented that the Cape May area suffered little damage due to its dunes, seawall and infrastructure which could be the template for rebuilding the state’s beach towns.
“Where there are dunes protecting the properties it makes a big difference,” said Mahon.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
