Hurricane Sandy

Hundreds of Displaced Toms River Residents Scramble for Housing

Toms River real estate agencies seeking viable rentals for victims of Hurricane Sandy

One of Hurricane Sandy’s most devastating after-effects has been the displacement of hundreds of local citizens from their homes, both on the barrier islands and the mainland. As a result, real estate professionals are seeing a great impact to the local real estate market. “Right now, we’re just trying to help people find short-term rentals,” said Chris Anthony of Weichert Realtors in Toms River. “I was displaced myself, along with friends and family members, and we’re doing our best to find them homes. We’re working on that more than anything.” Donna Walesiewicz of Crossroads Realty in Toms River said the push is greatest for rental properties. “The biggest thing we’re facing right now is trying to get as many people affected by the storm…

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Chadwick, Silver Beach Residents Can Access Homes Monday

Registration begins 8:30 a.m. at Bellcrest Plaza

Toms River's Ocean Beach Units Continue Access Sunday

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Bellcrest Plaza

Direct from the Source

Mayor: 'Ortley Beach is Known as Ground Zero'

Mayor says residents need to mentally prepare themselves for devastation

Column as submitted by Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher: I  want to remind all Toms River residents that plans are currently underway for barrier island residents to get back into their homes as soon as feasibly possible.   I don't know that our residents fully understand the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has had on our beach community. Ortley Beach is known as Ground Zero.   I think our residents need to mentally prepare themselves for what they'll see.  Landmarks are not there anymore.  Parking lots have had their asphalt ripped apart and literally thrown to the other side of the street.  Houses have no staircases.  Many homes were pulled from their foundation and are leaning on the dirt.  Many homes are not structurally sound to even …

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Hurricane Sandy

Point Pleasant Beach: Stay Out of Town!

Police ask that people stay away from beach and boardwalk

Point Pleasant Beach police are strongly urging that people not come to town to look at the ocean or Manasquan Inlet. "We seem to be having an influx of people coming into town in order to look at the ocean and inlet," said Detective Pat Petruzziello early Sunday afternoon. He said police are strongly urging people "to not come into town for this purpose as we are in the midst of a mandatory evacuation." The police are currently working on getting residents and visitors east of the NJ Transit train tracks, on Arnold Avenue and Route 35 north, out of town as quickly as possible and by a 4 p.m. deadline at the latest. For the residents east of the tracks who are still in their homes, police are issuing the following reminder: "The Point …

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Apartment Complex Evacuated After Fire Spreads From Wastebasket

About 20 evacuees stayed on Toms River bus while firefighters doused one apartment's fire

About 20 people were evacuated from an apartment complex in downtown Toms River after 7 a.m. Wednesday, in a fire confined to one unit, officials said. Toms River Fire District 1 Chief Sam Seaman said that when the first officer on the scene arrived, he found residents on the porch of the complex, saying “We don’t know if he’s in there.” Seaman said the officer checked the door and it was hot, so the officer forced entry into the apartment to search with another officer and see if it was occupied. “Thankfully the apartment was empty,” said Seaman. One hose line extinguished the fire, he said, while the evacuees were staying out of the weather on a bus borrowed from Toms River Regional Schools. Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy …

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Drucillia Demiglia

7:46 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012

What,you never did anything stupid? Most of your posts are stupid !   more ›

Six Neighbors Evacuated in Ortley Beach House Fire

Vacant home ablaze, six neighbors evacuated at 4:30 a.m., no injuries reported.

Six residents were evacuated from nearby homes after a vacant house caught fire around 4:30 a.m. this morning, police said. The Ortley Beach house fire evacuated six neighbors of 1 Seventh Ave., but no injuries were reported, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. Toms River Police and Fire Departments arrived at 4:30 a.m. to find the house in flames, he said. “The vacant home was fully involved in fire when emergency personnel arrived on scene,” Mastronardy said in an email. “The fire necessitated the evacuation of six residents of surrounding homes near the fire but no other damage or injuries were reported.” Firefighters from the departments of Ocean Beach, Seaside Heights, Lavallette and Toms River Fire Co. 2 extinguished …

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Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Sends Local Hotels on a Wild Ride of Cancellations and Reservations

Seaside and Route 37 hotels weigh in on impact of storm

With Hurricane Irene weekend followed by Labor Day weekend, it’s been a week of highs and lows for local hotels. The effects of a mandatory evacuation last weekend due to the hurricane were felt predominantly on the barrier island hotels and motels, who were faced with cancellations and the work of clearing out guests and shutting down the business. Bill Pettinelli from the Starlight Motel, Ortley Beach, said, “It’s killing us!” With the mandatory evacuation of the barrier island, the Ortley Beach section of Toms River began to clear on Saturday afternoon. “We have 47 rooms, 27 with kitchens; we fill every night in the summer,” said Pettinelli. Not last Saturday night, he said. Starlight offered refunds for guests.  “We don’t need anymore …

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Hurricane Irene

Live Updates: Toms River HS East Shelter Open. Power Outages, Flooding, Roads Reports

Update: Toms River High School East open as evacuation shelter. Power outages ongoing. Barrier island roads closed.

The Ocean County Office of Emergency Management urges residents to stay at home and remain sheltered until damage assessments can be completed. (9 a.m. Sunday) 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 Toms River are without power. Shelters at Toms River High School North and Intermediate North are now full, said Toms River Office of Emergency Management. Evacuees should now report to Toms River High School East, which is a pet-friendly facility but with no cages. Evacuees are encouraged to bring their own blankets and pillows. (Update 5:45 p.m.) Toms River High …

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Hurricane Irene

Christie: 'If We Can Minimize the Loss of Life, NJ Will Get Through This Just Fine'

Gov. Chris Christie held a hurricane preparedness briefing update at 2 p.m.

While Hurricane Irene has downgraded to a Category 1 storm, Gov. Chris Christie said in his 2 p.m. preparedness briefing that decreasing wind speeds by 10-15 mph "will make little difference to the folks here in New Jersey." So far, more than 90 percent of the residents in Long Beach Island, Cape May and Atlantic counties have been evacuated. The concern as of this afternoon is Atlantic City and Christie said the New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Transit are sending additional buses to accelerate and complete the evacuation process. "I can't make you leave your home and I am certainly not going to place you under arrest to make you leave," Christie said. "Let us take you downstairs to one of these buses. … If you stay where you are …

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