UPDATE: NJ Transit Buses Take Victims to ‘Super’ Shelters

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 10:30 AM:
WILDWOOD — The New Jersey Transit Operation to locate residents to Woodbine and Wildwood started at 9:30 a.m. this morning. Residents in need of shelter will be taken to the Wildwoods Convention Center and the Woodbine Developmental Center from transitional sites set up in each community. Additionally, residents may drive their cars to either facility. Some communities have activated their Reverse 9.1.1 system for notification in their communities of the Super Shelters.
The Woodbine Developmental Center is servicing the eight northern municipalities; Avalon, Dennis Township, Middle Township, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Upper Township and Woodbine. The Wildwoods Convention Center is being used as a shelter for the eight southern communities of Cape May, Cape May Point, Lower Township, North Wildwood, West Cape May, West Wildwood, City of Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.
The Red Cross is assisting the county with the operation of the shelters. They have provided strike teams consisting of medical, sheltering, food and general services. These teams along with volunteers are manning the shelters.
If you or someone you know is in need of sheltering, please contact your local police department or call the County Emergency Management Office at 609-463-6570 to speak with a Red Cross representative.
In preparation for the second snowstorm, possibly ushered in by high wind, rain and sleet, could result in flooded streets, and down more power lines, Cape May County Office of Emergency Management on Tuesday, Feb. 9 announced the opening of two large transition centers (shelters).
At an afternoon press conference, Frank McCall, director of the county’s Emergency Management Communications Center, said the two sites would be capable of accepting residents by sundown Tuesday.
“My hope and prayer is we get 10 inches of snow,” said McCall. “Less than that total snow event is not good news for Cape May County. It would present a challenge like we have never seen dealing with winter storms,” said McCall.
While tidal flooding is a concern, McCall said that the major concern is that less snow might mean more rain sleet or combination. There will be freezing rain, and street drains are already clogged with ice and snow.
Outfalls are likewise clogged with ice, said McCall. That means nowhere for the water or wintry mix to empty, he said.
“With the amount of ice on electric lines and trees, this presents a great challenge to all entities responding,” said McCall.
McCall said the center had updated 120 county emergency responders earlier in the afternoon. He said Vincent Bayonne, president of Atlantic Electric, had briefed the group.
Because of surveys, the American national Red Cross “came to our assistance,” said McCall. He said that a declaration by the Red Cross had been made for Cape May County.
“What it allows for the county in conjunction with the Red Cross to access all their resources,” said McCall. He said the Red Cross was shipping 5,000 cots and blankets to the county for shelters.
Additionally, the Red Cross was sending to the county two “strike teams” in advance of the storm. They consist of medical teams, service teams, sheltering teams and food teams.
“They will begin to arrive before sunset today,” said McCall.
In addition, four New Jersey Transit buses were being detailed to the county to transport to those transition centers persons lacking transportation of their own.
He said four specially detailed crews from Atlantic Electric would be stationed on the main power lines to the Wildwoods Convention Center to ensure that electricity, which the center had lacked for a number of days, would be restored and maintained throughout the next storm event.
Persons at existing shelters, who feel comfortable in them, would not be forced to leave them to go the larger centers, said McCall.
“Our primary concern is for the safety and welfare of the residents of Cape May County. There may be a lot going on in other parts of the state, but we are staying focused on our ability to service our residents,” said McCall.
Those with questions about electrical service and outages were referred to Atlantic Electric’s toll-free number 1-800-833-7476.
These transitional centers will provide transportation to residents who have no other way to make it to one of the two main shelters. The centers are as follows:
Avalon – Avalon Fire Company – 3100 Dune Drive
Cape May – Cape May City Elementary School – 921 Lafayette Street
Cape May Point – Cape May Point Borough Hall – 412 Yale Ave.
Dennis Township – Dennis Township Senior Center – 595 Petersburg Road
Lower Township – Villas Volunteer Fire Company – 1643 Bayshore Road
Middle Township – Middle Township Elementary School #4 – 300 East Pacific Ave
North Wildwood – North Wildwood Recreation Center – 9th St. and Central Ave
Ocean City – Ocean City Community Center – 1735 Simpson Ave.
Sea Isle City – Michael J. Cullianane Public Safety Building – 223 J.F. Kennedy Blvd.
Stone Harbor – Stone Harbor Fire Company – 175 96th St.
Upper Township – Seaville Fire House – 36 US Route 50
West Cape May – West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company – 732 Broadway
West Wildwood – Borough Hall – 701 West Glenwood Ave.
Wildwood – Holly Beach Fire Company – 4302 Washington Ave.
Wildwood Crest – Wildwood Crest Fire Company – 7100 Pacific Ave.
Woodbine – Borough Hall – Franklin St. & Monroe Ave.