Lower Police Urge Residents to Be Prepared as Hurricane Season Peaks

ERMA — As the Hurricane Season peaks, the Lower Township Police Department is urging residents to be prepared in the event of a storm.
Lower Township Police Chief, Edward Donohue, who is also a member of the township’s Office of Emergency Management, noted that the majority of tropical storms in our area occur between late August and October with activity this season predicted to be above normal.
Donohue stated that it’s important for residents and visitors alike to have a family evacuation plan in place prior to a storm’s arrival. Residents are in a unique position in Cape May County given the fact that there are no official shelters designated for county residents should a hurricane of Category One strength or greater, make land fall in our area.
Donohue noted that computer-generated models, provided by the County Office of Emergency Management, indicate that a large majority of Lower Township and Cape May County, would be under water from the storm surge of a hurricane making land fall in the area with waters from the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay flooding low lying areas, which is why there are no designated shelters in Cape May County as the majority of the county may be under water in the event of a direct hit;
That is why it’s important that residents have a plan in place to evacuate to a location outside of Cape May County, preferably to a friend or relative’s house well inland from the coast and/or a designated shelter located in another county.
As a storm approaches, our residents and visitors should know the difference between a Hurricane Watch and a Hurricane Warning.
A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions may be expected within 48 hours.
A Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions may be expected within 36 hours.
Residents and visitors should monitor television and radio reports several days in advance of an approaching tropical storm.
In order to evacuate Lower Township and Cape May County, the Evacuation Order would have to come from the Governor’s Office and the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management in cooperation with the Cape May County Office of Emergency Manage-ment at least 30 to 36 hours before the storm is expected to impact the area.
Donohue noted that there is a contra-flow Reverse Lane Strategy Plan in place for the Garden State Parkway and portions of Route 47, which may be put into place for Cape May County depending on the severity of the storm and the time of the year that it was to impact our area.
In the event of an evacuation, in addition to TV and Radio Announcements, Lower Township would utilize its Reverse Emergency Notification System or Global Connect System to advise our residents of what precautions to take and what routes to take out of the area if an evacuation order was given. The system can call any hard line or land line phone in Lower Township, whether listed or unlisted.
Residents and visitors can also register their cell phones with the system by logging onto Lower Township’s website at townshipoflower.org and then clicking on the link for the Global Connect or Reverse Emergency Network System to register their cell phones with the township’s DATA Base.
Donohue noted that many residents, especially our younger residents may not have a hard line phone and rely solely on their cell phones. In addition, residents visiting the area, especially at campgrounds and marinas, may only have access to their cell phones at the time that an evacuation order may be given, which is why it’s important that our residents and visitors who rely on cell phones only should take advantage of our Reverse Emergency Network System and register their cell phones with the township.
Donohue noted that the same computer generated models that show that many of the barrier island communities would be under water in the event of a land fall, also show that the area around the Cape May County Airport where the Lower Township Police Department is located, would not be affected from the storm surge of a hurricane making land fall in the county.
Therefore, the Lower Township Police Department would attempt to continue operations at the airport which would become an important staging area both before and after a major tropical storm or hurricane impacting the county.
Donohue confirmed that the Lower Township Police Department has entered into an inter local agreement with Chief Robert Matteucci and the North Wildwood Police Department whereby equipment and personnel from the North Wildwood Police Department would be housed at the Lower Township Police Department in the event that an evacuation order for the county was given.
Other municipalities have plans to store equipment and vehicles at the airport complex in Lower Township as well.
Police chiefs, Rescue Squad Personnel and DPW Officials, urge all residents and visitors to take the following precautions:
♦ Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.
♦ Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service.
♦ As the storm approaches, bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind; bicycles, trashcans, lawn furniture, etc.
♦ Turn off propane tanks and unplug all appliances.
♦ Fill your car’s gas tank.
♦ Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan.
♦ Learn about your communities Hurricane Response Plan.
♦ Plan routes to shelters outside of Cape May County or Relative’s or Friend’s Homes outside
of Cape May County.
♦ Be mindful of any neighbors or relatives who require special medical needs.
♦ Register any relatives that require special medical needs with your local police department.
♦ Evacuate immediately if advised to do so by authorities.
Have the following items available;
♦ Water, at least a three (3) day supply; one (1) gallon per person per day.
♦ Food, at least a three (3) day supply of non perishable, easy to prepare food.
♦ Flashlight and extra Batteries.
♦ First Aid Kit.
♦ Any medications you may need.
♦ Copies of personal documents, birth certificate, driver’s license, proof of address.
♦ Deed or Lease to your home.
♦ Passports.
♦ Insurance Policies.
♦ Cell phone with charger.
♦ Family and Emergency Contact information.
♦ Extra cash.
♦ Emergency Blankets.
♦ Maps of the Tri-State area.
Any Special Needs Residents who have difficulty walking or require oxygen and certain medications and do not have any neighbors or relatives who would be able to transport them in the event of an evacuation, should call the Lower Township Police Department at 886-1619 ext. 114 and register their name and address with Captain Brian Marker.