Highlands Ordered Evacuated

Highlands Emergency Management STATE OF EMERGENCY IN EFFECT

 A state of emergency is NOW in effect in Monmouth County and the Borough of Highlands.

Hurricane Irene is currently predicted to pass over the New Jersey coast Saturday into Sunday. This has potentially historic flooding(worse then the Nor’easter of 1992),sustained winds up to 100mph,10-12 inches of rain and 12 foot storm surge.

Mandatory evacuations for ALL Highlands residents,visitors, and business will begin at 5pm friday August 26 and must be completed by 5pm saturday August 27th.

Residents are encouraged to relocate outside the area with family and friends first. For everyones safety, remove all outdoor items that could blow or float, secure your home and make arrangements to leave midday saturday.

Please do not leave pets behind.

Holmdel High school 36 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel NJ 07733 and Wall township High school 1630 18th ave Belmar NJ 07719 are open at 5pm today,caged pets are accepted at these two shelters ONLY.

Colts Neck High School to open 8am saturday the 27th(NO pets)

TRANSPORTATION-Residents are encouraged to utilize personal vehicles to evacuation shelters. Transportation will also be provided by bus from the following locations(pick up only) and times: FRIDAY Aug 26th 5pm-10pm Saturday Aug 27th 7am-5pm at Community Center parking lot-DO NOT LEAVE VEHICLES Borough Hall-DO NOT LEAVE VEHICLES Henry Hudson Regional

For updated information visit highlandsnj.com

EMERGENCY RESCUE PERSONNEL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO DISTRESS CALLS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM.

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Monmouth County Park Closures

Due to the weather forecast, All Monmouth County Park System Parks, Golf Courses, Activity Centers, Environmental Centers, Visitor Centers, Program Buildings & Historic Sites will be closed to the public on Sunday, August 28^th. All Monmouth County Park System programs, activities, classes, lessons, clinics, trips & Group Picnic/Shelter rentals for Sunday, August 28^th have been cancelled

Some additional information regarding specific programs & parks:

–      Turkey Swamp Park Campgrounds will close at 12noon, Saturday, August 27^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      The Dorbrook Recreation Area Sprayground will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      The Going Batty Campfire program at Turkey Swamp Park for Saturday, August 27^th has been cancelled.

–      The Navesink River Kayak Trip for Sunday, August 28^th has been cancelled.

–      All boat tours at the Manasquan Reservoir for Friday evening, 8/26 thru Sunday, 8/28 have been cancelled.

–      Creature Feature at Huber Woods Environmental Center for Saturday, August 27^th has been cancelled.

–      The Monmouth County Youth Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, August 29th at Bel-Aire Golf Course had been cancelled.

–      The Park-A-Day Camp for Monday, August 29^th departing from the Coastal Activity Center has been cancelled for Monday only.

–      Camp Seven Presidents for Monday, August 29^th has been cancelled for Monday only.

–      Charmin Discovers at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park for Monday, August 29^th has been cancelled for Monday only. 

Unless contacted separately by Park System staff, all programs & activities scheduled for Saturday, August 27th will be conducted as planned.

Updated information regarding the parks, golf courses and programs/activities which begin on Monday, August 29^th will posted on our website www.monmouthcountyparks.com as it becomes available. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected] or call (732) 842-4000 ext 4312 

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Christie to hold second hurricane press conference

Governor Christie will hold his second press conference today regarding the State’s preparation for Hurricane Irene at 4:00 PM.

MMM will broadcast the live feed.

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Hurricane Updates

During a press conference this afternoon Governor Chris Chrisite announced that the Garden State Parkway Southbound will be closed at Exit 98 this evening at 8PM.  Southbound traffic will be routed to Rt 195.

MVC offices in Monmouth County will be closed at 4PM today until further notice.   MVC has extended drivers licenses and registration that expire this month until September 10.

The Governor reiterated the seriousness of the coming hurricane and said that those who ignore evacuation orders are putting their own lives at risk.

Christie expects that we are in for a long haul, at least five days, including the aftermath of the strom.  He urged all state residents to be prepared with enough water, none perishable food, a manual can opener and batteries for flash lights and portable radios to last five days.

Christie will have addition updates after three this afternoon, including preparations for Monmouth County.

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Hurriance Irene

...DANGEROUS HURRICANE IRENE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE REGION 
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... 

.NEW INFORMATION... 
UPDATED STORM LOCATION. 
UPDATED TO ADD HUNTERDON COUNTY NJ. 

.AREAS AFFECTED... 
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND 
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY...EASTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA...DELAWARE...AND THE MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. THIS 
STATEMENT ALSO APPLIES TO COASTAL AREAS FROM RARITAN BAY AND SANDY 
HOOK NEW JERSEY TO FENWICK ISLAND DELAWARE INCLUDING ALL OF THE 
DELAWARE BAY. 

.WATCHES/WARNINGS... 

A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...NEW 
CASTLE...KENT...INLAND SUSSEX...DELAWARE BEACHES...WESTERN 
MONMOUTH...EASTERN MONMOUTH...SALEM...GLOUCESTER...CAMDEN... 
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON...OCEAN...CUMBERLAND...ATLANTIC...CAPE 
MAY...ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY...COASTAL ATLANTIC...COASTAL 
OCEAN...SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON...DELAWARE AND PHILADELPHIA. 
FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR ALL OF 
NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY. 
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... 
CECIL...KENT MD...QUEEN ANNES...TALBOT...CAROLINE...MERCER... 
CHESTER...MONTGOMERY AND BUCKS. 
A HURRICANE WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... 
MIDDLESEX. 
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... 
MORRIS...HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET. 
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. PLEASE LISTEN 
CLOSELY FOR ANY FLOOD WARNINGS THAT MIGHT BE IN EFFECT FOR YOUR 
AREA. 

.STORM INFORMATION... 

AT 8 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR 
LATITUDE 30.0N...LONGITUDE 77.3W. THIS WAS ABOUT 640 MILES SOUTH 
OF DOVER DE...OR ABOUT 630 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF CAPE MAY NJ. 
STORM MOTION WAS N OR 360 DEGREES AT 14 MPH. STORM INTENSITY WAS 
110 MPH. 

.SITUATION OVERVIEW... 
DANGEROUS HURRICANE IRENE IS FORECAST TO TRACK NORTH NORTHEAST 
THROUGH SUNDAY, WHICH BRINGS THE CENTER VERY NEAR THE NEW JERSEY 
AND DELAWARE COASTS SUNDAY. THE STORM WILL BRING DAMAGING WINDS, 
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND COASTAL FLOODING. THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL 
ANTICIPATED IS 6 TO 12 INCHES. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN IN COMBINATION 
WITH A WET MONTH WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD FLOODING. THERE IS THE 
POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR FLOODING IN SOME LOCATIONS. WHEN MAKING 
DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT FORECAST TRACK AS THIS 
HURRICANE IS A LARGE STORM. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS 
SITUATION, THEREFORE EVERYONE IS URGED COMPLETE THEIR PREPARATIONS 
TODAY. 
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR CAPE MAY COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR LONG BEACH ISLAND, AND 
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP IN OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF ATLANTIC 
COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF 
LOCAL OFFICIALS WHEN EVACUATIONS ARE ORDERED. 

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 

.NEXT UPDATE... 

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY AROUND NOON EDT...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS 
WARRANT. 

...HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT... 

...NEW INFORMATION... 
NO NEW INFORMATION. 

...PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS... 

THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS LESS THAN OR 
EQUAL TO 14 PERCENT. ALSO...THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM 
CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 82 PERCENT. THIS REPRESENTS A 
GENERAL STEADY TREND SINCE THE LAST FORECAST. THE ONSET OF 
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD START AS EARLY AS SATURDAY 
AFTERNOON. 

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE... 
MUCH DEPENDS ON THE PRECISE SIZE, INTENSITY AND TRACK OF THE 
SYSTEM AS IT APPROACHES THE COAST. GIVEN THE LATEST FORECAST, 
A STORM SURGE OF 3 TO 6 FEET IS POSSIBLE. 

...INLAND FLOODING... 

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. HEAVY AND 
POSSIBLY RECORD SETTING RAINFALL AMOUNTS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MAY 
RESULT IN MAJOR FLOODING ACROSS THE AREA. 

...COASTAL HAZARDS... 
HERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION ALONG WITH 
BATTERING WAVES. 

...RIP CURRENTS... 

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. CONDITIONS IN THE SURF ZONE 
WILL BECOME DANGEROUS, THEREFORE EVERYONE IS URGED TO STAY OUT OF 
THE WATER.

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Christie: Do Not Go To The Shore, If You Are At The Shore Leave

Governor Chris Christie has declared an State of Emergency in order to mobilize the National Guard and other Emergency Management resources in preparation of Hurricane Irene.  The hurricane is expected to hit New Jersey on Saturday evening.

“From Sandy Hook to Cape May, people should prepare to get to higher ground.”

“We do not folks going to the shore this weekend,” Governor Chris Christie said during his Hurricane Irene preparedness press conference.

The Governor said he is actively considering a mandatory evacuation, but is not there yet.  He has asked that people residing or vacationing on the New Jersey shore voluntarily leave  by Friday mid-day in preparation of the hurricane that is expected to hit on Saturday.

The Governor said he would not issue a mandatory evacuation unless he is convinced that human lives are at risk. However, he asked that people follow his example and voluntarily leave the shore.  Christie said he and his family are cutting short their Island Beach State Park vacation today.

Christie said the storm is anticipated to have an enormous impact on the entire state and that all residents, not just at the shore, should make preparations.

Christie said that if the storm continues on its current track, from a flooding perspective, this storm could be a “100 year event.”

Instructions for hurricane preparation can be found at ready.nj.gov.

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