County of Monmouth

For Immediate Release:

August 25, 2011

 

Update: Aug. 26, 2011  9 a.m. - The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders passed this resolution on Thursday evening, Aug. 25.

 
 

County to issue state of emergency tonight

Evacuations along shoreline urged in advance of Hurricane Irene

FREEHOLD, NJ – Following Gov. Chris Christie’s declaration of a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Irene, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is expected to issue its own  state of emergency for Monmouth County when the Board meets in Farmingdale tonight.

Right now, residents living in coastal and low-lying areas are urged to evacuate voluntarily, especially those who have experienced flooding before.

“Last weekend we had 4 inches of rain and some of our evacuation routes were impassable because of flooding,” Freeholder Director Robert D. Clifton said. “This weekend we expect even more rain and wind, so it is important to make the decision to leave early before it becomes too late.”

The county has established shelters in Holmdel High School, 36 Crawford’s Corner Rd., Holmdel, and Wall High School, 1630 18th Avenue, Wall. The shelters will open at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Gov. Christie today warned potential visitors not to come to the shore this weekend, and he urged residents and visitors along the shore to leave tonight or tomorrow. By tomorrow night, Christie said he would like to see everyone out of the shore area, especially those on the barrier islands.

A state of emergency will allow the Office of Emergency Management to mobilize all county resources and direct them where they are needed to protect life and property. These actions include ordering mandatory evacuations and controlling traffic on all roadways.

Irene is expected to arrive Saturday night and continue with high winds and rain throughout the day on  Sunday. The governor said he is considering ordering a mandatory evacuation, and the county will follow suit if and when that decision is made.
 
For everyone else, it is important to prepare for the storm before it hits.

Sheriff Shaun Golden strongly suggests that residents assemble a kit of emergency supplies, creating an emergency plan and tuning into local radio and television for current information.

“The most important thing that residents can do in advance of the approaching storm is prepare, plan and stay informed,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “While our county crews are preparing for this storm, residents should do their part as well.”

Recommended items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers

 Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler's checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Plan – create an emergency plan – Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan a way to contact one another, such as enlisting the help of a third party in another state as a contact, and review what you will do in different situations.

Stay informed – Listen to local radio and television for information on storms and other emergencies.  Residents can also check out the county Web site for currently released new and updated information. They can also “like” “Monmouth County Government” on Facebook and follow the “MonmouthGovNJ” on Twitter.


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