Sheriff Golden: Be prepared for Hurricane Season

June 1 is the start of Hurricane Season and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden is urging residents and visitors to be prepared.

“Preparing, planning and staying informed makes dealing with any kind of storm that may affect Monmouth County much easier,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “As we approach the hurricane season, now is the time to take those basic steps.”

There is one simple thing you can do today that, if we get a major storm, will make a big difference in your experience and maybe even save your life.

Know Your Zone. Click here and enter your address in the interactive map to find out your evacuation zone (not to be confused with your flood zone.)

“This information is particularly vital during hurricane season since it is designed to educate residents, businesses and visitors on the coastal evacuation zone in which they live, work or vacation,” said Michael Oppegaard, Monmouth County OEM Coordinator.

“The plan identifies specific coastal evacuation zones (A, B, C and D) that helps emergency management officials target evacuation orders to those areas that are at the most risk, based upon threat, strength, direction and forecasted storm surge.”

The zones allow for a clearer and more decisive messaging, when evacuations are needed. As the public becomes aware of which zone they are in, evacuation messaging will be directed toward a specific zone. For more information, please visit www.mcsonj.org/knowyourzone.

Residents and business owners should take the time to do an insurance check up to ensure adequate coverage to repair or replace property that is destroyed in a flood or other natural disaster.

Golden is urging residents to download the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Application (app) for smartphones.

The app provides instant access to sheriff’s office related information, which includes real-time emergency notifications through its integrated push notification system that automatically displays the message on the phone. Users are able to be instantly alerted to weather, or other emergency related situations, from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the agency’s Office of Emergency Management.

“It can be challenging during emergency situations to provide consistent, official messages to a large group of residents. In addition to social media and our website, this app is another tool that we utilize to keep the public informed,” Sheriff Golden said.

The Sheriff’s Office will once again take disaster preparedness a step further by assisting seniors throughout Monmouth County in the event of an emergency or disaster through the STORM program. Seniors Taking on Readiness Measures, STORM, equips those who are among the most vulnerable population with emergency preparedness information, assists them in creating a family disaster plan, and, provides them with an emergency kit.

“After Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy impacted Monmouth County with mandatory evacuations and the need to shelter residents, it was recognized that many people did not have a family emergency plan. Thanks to our STORM program that has changed,” said Sheriff Golden. “STORM, which is presented throughout Monmouth County, provides people with the tools to build a plan in an effort to strengthen resiliency, sustainability and expedite recovery during emergencies and disasters.”

During the program, seniors are provided with a family disaster plan booklet, which asks for personal, family, work, medical, insurance, emergency & evacuation related information. Once the booklet is completed, they are then provided with a free emergency supply kit, which includes basic necessities for use during an emergency. STORM programs can be scheduled by calling the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, OEM at (732) 431-7400.