Toms River HS North Opens as Shelter at 4 p.m. for Hurricane Sandy

Update, 9:40 p.m. Sunday: A second shelter for Toms River residents has opened at TRHS East on Raider Way. TRHSN is full. This story is updated, here.

Original story: 11 a.m. Sunday:

The Pine Belt Arena at Toms River High School North will be used as an evacuation shelter for Hurricane Sandy after 4 p.m. Sunday Oct. 28.

The school is at 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08753; on the corner of Route 571 and Old Freehold Road. The shelter is pet-friendly; pet owners are encouraged to bring their own pet crates.

The barrier island communities of Ortley Beach, Seaside Heights and Park, Normandy Beach, Ocean Beach, Lavallette and the other island communities are under a mandatory order to evacuate at 4 p.m.

Toms River Office of Emergency Management will be providing bus transport at the Ortley A&P on Route 35 and at the Dover-Brick EMS building on Route 35 Southbound at 4 p.m.

Toms River OEM Paul Daley said barrier island residents are encouraged to drive to the shelter if possible.

"Don't leave your car on the island," he said. "And also please don't park it at the bus pick-up area as that is private property." He said the bus is for those who do not have transportation to a shelter from the barrier island and the bus will drive to the Pine Belt Arena.

Toms River has activated its Hurricane Emergency Hotline for 4 p.m. Sunday and onward: 732-818-9901.

At noon, Daley urged barrier island residents to secure their property, and leave the island.

"Take this storm seriously," Daley said. "High winds and flooding are very real dangers. This is predicted to be worse than Irene."

The mainland residents living in flood-prone areas should expect flooding and take the necessary precautions, Daley said.

Bayfront, lagoon and flood-prone areas are not considered part of the mandatory evacuation. The only mandatory evacuation is the barrier island.

Silverton waterfront is under voluntary evacuation. Fire and EMS personnel have begun driving around the waterfront urging a voluntary evacuation to higher ground.

Questions on whether you reside in a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order in Toms River? Call 732-818-9901.

Toms River mainland residents should brace for high winds and potential power outages created by downed tree limbs. "Take this time now to complete all the obvious pre-storm plans and prepare for emergency situations," Daley said.

Toms River Regional Schools are closed Monday and the Toms River Halloween Parade has been postponed.

A hurricane readiness list can be found here.

Emergency numbers and other utility company info for Toms River is listed here.

Closings and cancellations for the Toms River area can be found here.

For the latest Hurricane Sandy coverage from Toms River Patch visit our topic page here.

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