Flooding Updates in Toms River Area

Update 8 a.m. Monday: This story reflects flooding events throughout Sunday. Officials are warning residents that flooding may continue throughout Monday. For emergencies in Toms River, call 9-1-1. Police non-emergency number is 732-349-0150.  

Flooding conditions are coming in from throughout Toms River's neighborhoods.

An ongoing report of flooding and road closures in Toms River. Check back for updates.

Shelter Cove and Snug Harbor:

High tide rolling in after Hurricane Irene is raising water levels in the Shelter Cove and Snug Harbor sections of town at 10 a.m.

On the scene in Cove Road, Shelter Cove, water levels have risen in lagoons there to dock heights at 10 a.m.

On the scene in Snug Harbor, cones are blocking the entrance near Seaman Court and Mizzen Road, where flooding is about knee deep as of 10 a.m., with conditions worsening as you get closer to the bay.

Shelter Cove is currently experiencing minor flooding at its side streets, with residents saying noon high tide is the hour to assess if waters will damage home.

Vehicles driving through streets are creating waves and wakes in the flooded areas, at the scene in Shelter Cove.

Fischer Boulevard Corridor:

On the scene at Fischer Boulevard and Yellowbank, the traffic light is disabled as of 11:28 a.m., with police not allowing turns onto Yellowbank. Near that intersection, a tree has fallen across power lines.

On the scene near Coty Marina, Pumpshire Road is flooded. Water has risen to Fischer Boulevard at 11:49 a.m.

Driving through Water's Edge, the neighborhood has power at 11:30 a.m., with no visible flooding but a tree has fallen over.

Barrier Island:

Access to the barrier island via Route 37 east bridge has changed throughout the afternoon and morning.

Driving over the open Route 37 Mathis Bridge to Seaside at 11 a.m., there is visible flooding in the streets of Pelican Island, and then to Seaside Heights at Route 35 and 37, where flooding is curb height. Police are patrolling the area and directing vehicles away from closed streets.

At the scene in Ortley Beach, damage to Joey Harrison's Surf Club with its beachfront and boardwalk tore up, walls damaged and portions of the property hanging over the sidewalk. However, minimal flooding to streets although several fences to sand dunes have been ripped off.

A police ATV vehicle is on the beachfront in Ortley, keeping surfers out of the water at 11 a.m.

Route 37 Mathis Bridge to Seaside has police stationed at base of bridge, with ongoing changes to access there into barrier island. At noon, the bridge is closed. However, Toms River Police Chief Mastronardy at 12:45 p.m. said bridge is open. He said changes to access over the bridge may occur.

At 2 p.m., access to Route 35 on the barrier island is limited. You have to go toward the A&P instead of south into Seaside Heights and Park at this time. Barnegat Street is flooded, and areas between Central Avene and Route 35 are also experiencing flooding.

Photographer Shawn Smith reports: "The winds hitting you as your cross the Mathis or Tunney are rough. I had to fight to stay in one lane."

Silverton:

Areas of the Silverton section of Toms River including Green Island, Holiday on the Bay, Silver Bay Road east of Brand Road is beginning to experience some flooding along with the east side of Fischer Boulevard at 11 a.m., according to the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management.

Downtown Toms River & Silver Ridge:

Heavy rains sent the Toms River over its banks, flooding Irons Streetand the Toms River Bus Terminal parking lot.

At the scene, Main Street is closed due to flooding at Route 166 and Water Street. The traffic light is out at Route 166 and Water Street.

At noon, the Toms River has reached the parking lot on Water Street between Robbins Parkway and Huddy Park.

With the southbound Garden State Parkway still closed, some drivers ignored cones set up at the Lakehurst Road entrance and used the toll road, until Toms River police responded.

Up the Wrangle Brook branch of the river in Berkeley Township, water flowed through the back yards of homes in Silver Ridge Park East, but did not flood the entrance to River Terrace in Toms River at Southampton Drive. Sprinklers were on at the Silver Ridge Park East clubhouse at mid-morning.

A drooping power line closed River Terrace in Toms River at Silver Ridge Drive.

At the county courthouse on Washington Street, a county crew was busy cutting up a tree blown down by the storm.

Riverfront streets on the north side of the river were closed, including the end of Robbins Parkway.

Water from the river flowed across Riverfront Landing Park into East Water Street. At Crabbe’s boat house near the Dock Street bend, water reached nearly to East Water Street.

Fire Company 2, on West Water Street, fortified its entrances to keep the water out. The river flooded the parking lot once used by the first Toms River Bus Terminal, and approached businesses on the south side of West Water Street.

Route 9 Corridor, Pleasant Plains and North Dover):

On the scene at 3:30 p.m., the traffic light at Cox Cro Road and Route 9 is out. A traffic police officer is directing traffic at the intersection, where drivers will be waved off of making a left turn onto Cox Cro from Route 9 northbound at this time.

Toms River Patch Photographer Shawn Smith reports no visible flooding or property damage along Route 9 from Route 37 to Route 70 at 4 p.m. Traffic is light on Route 9 southbound now that the Garden State Parkway southbound has reopened.

At 8 p.m., Pleasant Plains Fire Department responded to off Route 70, for reports of flooding. About 30 residents were evacuated as the northern branch of the Toms River swelled.

Downstream, the neighborhood off Route 571 began flooding shortly thereafter, with streets such as Beech and Walnut evacuating with the help of Manchester Police around 10 p.m.

Power outages reported:

urges residents to stay at home and remain sheltered until damage assessments can be completed.

Power outages began across Toms River around 11 p.m. Saturday and continue into this morning, according to JCP&L and Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. JCP&L at 7:30 a.m. Sunday is reporting 14,000 customers in .

For additional road updates, visit:

• http://www.511nj.org/