UPDATE: Voluntary Evacuation for Low-Lying Areas as Storm Brings Flood Threat
Flooding possible; voluntary evacuations in place for low-lying areas
Toms River's Office of Emergency Management has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas, as flooding is expected from a nor'easter forecast to strike the Shore area.
Toms River Department of Public Works employees have been working to strengthen beach dunes in preparation of the storm, which is forecast to begin as a rain event in coastal areas after 8 a.m. Wednesday and continue through late Thursday, with the potential for the precipitation to turn to snow.
Crews are "busy moving more sand onto the beach, in anticipation of the storm," said township Public Information Officer Debbi Winogracki. "In areas where homeowners have not signed easements for dune replenishment, the DPW is placing sand on the streets so that water does not get to the homes."
The Toms River Office of Emergency Management has been "closely monitoring" the storm and is urging residents to stay updated on conditions.
Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said he would meet Tuesday with the township’s public works department to discuss possible preparations, according to NJ.com.
"Various township equipment and vehicles are being moved to higher ground," Winogracki said.
Toms River took substantial damage during Sandy — 67 people currently live in the Ortley Beach section of town, where there are 2,400 homes — but Mastronardy is "cautiously optimistic" the township’s newly built dunes will protect from whatever surges this storm produces, according to NJ.com.
There are parts of town where dunes were not rebuilt on private swaths of the shore, and those areas are especially at risk for flooding, Mastronardy said.
"We will continue to monitor the weather hourly and if there is a need for action, we will provide updates through our website and the Nixle program," Winogracki said.
Martin
2:18 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Now there are flood warnings with every little storm.
Sandy overwashed the barrier island, overfilling the bay and flooding my house on the mainland. Never mind dumping sand in streets, as this article says. Gov. Christie should use EMINENT DOMAIN to get easements for building dunes and replenishing beaches. Nobody's precious view is more important than my safety and my house.
Hurry up and start the project to clean out the bay (1 million+ cubic feet of sand, houses, boats, cars, tables, debris). Stop the floods, let boaters navigate it and generate revenues again.
Meanwhile, FEMA's abusive power must be curbed. Why should NJ's money bail out that federal bureaucracy from its Katrina debt? A better use of its money would be to protect the coastline with dunes, seawalls and reinforced beaches, rather than making 100,000 people raise their homes at $100,000 each or pay $30,000 a year for insurance.
Congress must amend the Biggert-Waters Act so that FEMA doesn't destroy the Shore with its erroneous maps, over-kill house-raising elevations and exorbitant annual insurance costs. FEMA has caused more damage than Sandy did.
Join the fight. ==> MEETING Sat. Mar. 9th, 3-4 PM, Silverton First Aid Squad, 86 Maine (like the state) St., Toms River. Property owners from all towns are welcome.
www.facebook.com/StopFemaNow
www.StopFemaNow.com
Twitter #StopFemaNow
Really?
3:43 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Martin, I agree with every word you say.
George
7:16 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
You're right on every cunt, Martin. FEMA is FUBAR.
dr d
12:30 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
"As many homeowners have suggested each beach block in Ortley should be dead ends (like in Lavallette) and part of the "old" Ocean Ave should be the boardwalk and the rest should be properly built dunes! Unfortunately our clueless elected officials want to rebuild everything the way it was before Sandy!" Great Idea Mark! Worthy of a Re-Post! Thanks-Dr D
VoiceofReason
10:21 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
100% agree.
Jim C
3:41 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I hope the residents of the area will have 'A Dutch Uncle Talk" with homeowners who have piles of sand in front of the homes about signing the easements for the benefit of the entire community.
ChiefWahoo
4:15 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
g,
Chief Wahoo would be pleased to see the butt cheek pucker up post.
To me it means the property values of water property should have plummeted and thus property taxes as well.
Mark
4:16 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
As many homeowners have suggested each beach block in Ortley should be dead ends (like in Lavallette) and part of the "old" Ocean Ave should be the boardwalk and the rest should be properly built dunes! Unfortunately our clueless elected officials want to rebuild everything the way it was before Sandy!
1stcav
4:20 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
You better watch your bike , APK now has a bike P/U truck with racks to carry 20 @ a time.BOHICA !!
I have spoken
5:33 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
@1stcav
Good one!!!!!
Exit82
7:21 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I saw them putting a boot on a 12 yr olds skateboard.
Finally!!!
4:31 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Oh 1st cav stick it where the sun don't shine! Stop being a hater of APK already! Your an old ratchet with alot of BS talk already! You can BS all the ppl up at the Legion but the truth is out there! So get a life already! Really
Av
4:52 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I will be driving around pounding beers in my car peeing in my milk jug oh yeah let's go storm!!
barbara
6:15 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Stinks, just about ready to move back to toms river house, renovations should be complete this week, alot of hard work went into renovating our home that we rent to my son. Scared and sure we will get flooded again..........ugh
Av
6:33 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
My milk jug will be flooded
Av
8:01 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I filled dam bumps on 35
Av
8:01 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Spilled