High Water No Match for Bayside Borough

WEST WILDWOOD – This tiny borough of approximately 500 year-round residents found themselves wading through water levels it hasn’t seen in decades as Hurricane Sandy made her way across the bay.
“There were a lot more homes that got water in them than ever before,” said Mayor Christopher Fox. “We saw water from one end to the other. We had water from Venice Avenue to Bay Avenue and from Poplar to Lake,” said the mayor, noting houses that normally do not flood during storms found water inside their walls.
Estimates of the storm surge put it at more than 9.2 feet, which makes Sandy’s surge higher than the Feb., 1992 storm that flooded borough homes. Wind gusts were greater than 60-70 mph.
A few homes found themselves minus decks or front porches as high winds made their way through town. “They were either blown off,” said Fox, “or taken off by the storm surge.” Several homes suffered blown out windows.
Even with water levels rising and high winds, the borough never lost power.
While not a barrier island, the borough’s position on the bay made it fall under the state’s mandatory evacuation order.
According to the mayor, approximately 90 percent of the population heeded the order.
“Of the 10 percent who didn’t, we probably took 2 percent of them out during the major part of the storm.”
Office of Emergency Management Director Fran Pelligrino “did an outstanding job,” said Fox. “Him the fire department and the public works department all grouped up and did a fabulous job, an incredible job.”
Even with the damages sustained by the borough, Fox said compared to storm damage to areas north of the county, borough residents were blessed.
“We have a lot of cleanup to do,” he said. “We’re trying to get everyone to apply for FEMA.” Fox said residents who do not have computer access or need assistance with filing may contact Borough Hall at 609-522-4845.
“Considering everything, it was a lot worse than we’ve ever had. A lot of residents are used to it (storms). They group up and get together and work with each other,” said Fox.
With emergency response personnel done with their job in the borough, Nov. 2 found five members of the West Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department and a truck on their way to Long Beach Island to help with clean up.
“They have it a lot worse than we do,” said the mayor. “We’re going to try and help them out.”