A couple hours prior, the ocean nearly reached the boardwalk. Local roads remained flooded. But for one bar on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, it was simply Sunday night and the party must go on. Although not as packed as it might have normally been on a summer Sunday night, the weekend before Labor Day, JR's bar in Seaside Heights opened up hours after Hurricane Irene, to allow locals to come in, have a drink and relax. Several dozen came out as flat screen televisions at the boardwalk bar broadcast the latest Irene news into the night. One patron from Denver at the bar said it turns out his …

Heading into Tuesday, the number of Toms River customers without power is half what it was a day ago. However, JCP&L reported 7,564 are without power as of 1 a.m. It's a second day in the dark for many residents, as Toms River outages are widespread. JCP&L reported more than 17,000 were without power Monday, up from 15,000 Sunday. Just two examples: Several sections of the Oak Ridge Parkway corridor remain without power due to downed utility poles in the area. Homestead Run was without power through at least Monday afternoon, including a Sunday evening evacuation of several streets there due …

A quickly-rising river near Homestead Run Mobile Home Park is causing an evacuation of 30 residents there, officials said. Emergency responders are searching homes in the evacuation area of the neighborhood, verifying homes are vacant or evacuating residents to Toms River Intermediate School North. The mobile home park has not had power since 11 p.m. Saturday, residents said. Homestead Run, off Route 70 and Fireside Boulevard, is near the northern branch of the Toms River. The river, which snakes alongside the development, quickly began rising to flood levels at around 8 p.m. tonight, …

It’s noon Saturday. One shelter is filled, another opens to accommodate up to 200 people and pets. An eastbound bridge to Seaside closes. Hurricane Irene’s winds have yet to arrive. For just a couple minutes, Toms River Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Daley is on his cell phone, talking to Patch. “We are in survival mode right now,” Daley said. He sounds frustrated. There are still people in mandatory evacuation areas have yet to leave. Residents from towns other than Toms River are beginning to descend on the evacuation shelters; other townships are asking to send buses here…