Re-Entry into Avalon to Follow State Orders

AVALON—The Avalon Office of Emergency Management, under the direction of Mayor Martin Pagliughi, advises residents to pay careful attention to re-entry instructions to the Borough of Avalon following Hurricane Sandy. Avalon is working closely with Gov. Chris Christie, State Police, and the county Office of Emergency Management for potential re-entry into the Borough following Hurricane Sandy.
On Tuesday afternoon, Pagliughi hosted a meeting with Governor Christie and other elected officials from Cape May County to discuss the status of Hurricane Sandy and the impact it has had on shore communities. The Governor updated local officials about the impacts of the storm statewide and gathered information from Pagliughi about the storm impact in Avalon and other parts of Cape May County.
The Borough of Avalon and all shore communities where a mandatory evacuation order is in effect will continue the mandatory evacuation of the Borough until all shore communities in Cape May County are prepared to allow re-entry simultaneously. This will provide a unified approach to the re-entry procedure in Avalon, the Seven Mile Beach, and the county. It is unknown when this re-entry will be authorized by the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management.
The Borough of Avalon will only permit re-entry into our community to residents when the Avalon Office of Emergency Management and the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management declare it is safe to do so. Avalon will not permit re-entry to the Borough for any reason at any time even after weather conditions have cleared until a thorough and complete check of our streets, properties, and infrastructure is conducted. The Avalon Office of Emergency Management, the Avalon Police Department, the Avalon Department of Public Works, and the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department are teaming up to provide remediation and recovery in the Borough of Avalon.
The Borough is conducting a thorough inspection of all streets, bridges, beaches, dunes, beach paths, pump stations and other assets. Emergency officials are looking for downed trees, power lines, utility poles, cable television lines, debris, and potential unsafe conditions. Avalon has experienced some street damage, bulkhead damage, beach erosion, and damage to private property. Our partners at Middlesex Water Company also have to check pump stations and inspect the sewer system for proper and efficient service. There have been power outages scattered through Avalon; some of those outages have not been reported because most property owners left our community. There is significant damage to the roadway on Ocean Drive leading north towards the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge.
The Avalon Office of Emergency Management appreciates that property owners and business owners are eager to return to the Borough to inspect their homes and businesses. Avalon officials encourage you not to begin a trip to Avalon even if the weather conditions are favorable.
Avalon will announce re-entry into the Borough is permissible three ways:
1) On Avalon’s emergency management website, www.avalonboro.org
2) On the Official Facebook Page for the Borough of Avalon
3) Via Global Connect reverse 9-1-1 telephone call
Once you are in town, please continue to visit our website and Facebook site, and listen to 1630AM radio, watch ShoreTV Channel 2 for Comcast customers; and visit Avalon’s municipal website, www.avalonboro.org Pay attention to traditional media outlets before permission is given to return to Avalon to learn about what roads are open and accessible for a trip to Avalon, New Jersey.