Gloucester Township Community Update #1 Hurricane / Tropical Storm Sandy
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Island Packet, Jay Karr/AP Photo Beach goers watch waves generated by Hurricane Sandy along a breezy Coligny Beach Park on Hilton Head Island, S.C., Saturday morning, Oct. 27, 2012.
press release October 27, 2012
The Gloucester Township Police Department and the Gloucester Township Office of Emergency Management continue to prepare for the upcoming storm. Community leaders and representatives from various emergency services met today to finalize emergency response plans. It is imperative that you continue to monitor local media and weather broadcasts. The latest National Weather Service Update has been included in this message.
The Governor had declared a State of Emergency:
Anticipating severe weather conditions including high winds, rain, coastal, stream and river flooding, and the storm’s potential to threaten the public’s health and safety, Governor Chris Christie today declared a state of emergency throughout the state as a result of severe weather conditions anticipated from Hurricane Sandy. In addition to taking this preemptory step to mobilize government in preparation for the storm, Governor Christie urged New Jerseyans to be vigilant in monitoring conditions of the storm, its effect on their communities, and in making preparations for themselves and their families.
The declaration activates elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan, broadening powers of the New Jersey State Police and local police including traffic control, limiting access and egress from impacted areas and issuing evacuation orders if needed. Although the Governor’s Declaration does not limit traveling on roadways at this time, we want to encourage you to only travel on the roads for essential purposes once storm conditions arrive.
The Following Government Sponsored Events Have Been Cancelled Due to Hurricane Sandy:
· Senior Bingo at the Gloucester Township Senior Center on 10/29/2012
· Flu shots clinic scheduled for Camden County Vocational School on 10/30/2012
Important reminder:
Please remove all items such as Halloween decorations, lawn signs, political signs, for sale signs or any other items that can be affected by high winds.
National Weather Service Update:
THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WATCH.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUN EVENING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT.
* WINDS.THE APPROACH OF POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WILL GENERATE NE WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH FROM THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR TO THE COASTS.
* TIMING.STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED MON & ALONG THE COAST OF NJ & DE.
* EXPANSION OF WATCH. MAY BE NEEDED INTO THE REMAINDER OF NW NJ & EASTERN PA IN LATER FORECAST ASSESSMENTS WITH RIDGES VULNERABLE AS WELL AS THE LEHIGH VALLEY.
* IMPACTS. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS BETWEEN 50 & 65 MPH.RAIN SOFTENED GROUND & MANY TREES STILL FULLY LEAVED.SHOULD RESULT IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES MON INTO MON EVENING. TREES COULD BE UPROOTED WITH MANY BROKEN TREE LIMBS EXPECTED. POWER OUTAGES MAY BE OF LONG DURATION.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.
A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH.OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
* WINDS.THE APPROACH OF POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WILL GENERATE NE WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH FROM THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR TO THE COASTS.
* TIMING.STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED MON & ALONG THE COAST OF NJ & DE.
* EXPANSION OF WATCH. MAY BE NEEDED INTO THE REMAINDER OF NW NJ & EASTERN PA IN LATER FORECAST ASSESSMENTS WITH RIDGES VULNERABLE AS WELL AS THE LEHIGH VALLEY.
* IMPACTS. THE COMBINATION OF WINDS BETWEEN 50 & 65 MPH.RAIN SOFTENED GROUND & MANY TREES STILL FULLY LEAVED.SHOULD RESULT IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES MON INTO MON EVENING. TREES COULD BE UPROOTED WITH MANY BROKEN TREE LIMBS EXPECTED. POWER OUTAGES MAY BE OF LONG DURATION.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.
A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH.OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF DELAWARE,NORTHEAST MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA,INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS, IN DELAWARE,DELAWARE BEACHES,INLAND SUSSEX,KENT AND NEW CASTLE. IN NORTHEAST MARYLAND,CAROLINE,CECIL,KENT MD, QUEEN ANNES AND TALBOT. IN NEW JERSEY,ATLANTIC,ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY,CAMDEN,CAPE MAY,COASTAL ATLANTIC, COASTAL OCEAN,CUMBERLAND,EASTERN MONMOUTH,GLOUCESTER, HUNTERDON,MERCER,MIDDLESEX,NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON,
OCEAN,SALEM,SOMERSET,SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON AND WESTERN MONMOUTH. IN PENNSYLVANIA,BERKS,BUCKS,CHESTER, DELAWARE,LEHIGH,MONTGOMERY,NORTHAMPTON AND PHILADELPHIA.
FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT
FOUR TO 8 INCHES OF WIND SWEPT RAIN WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER DELAWARE, MARYLANDS EASTERN SHORE, SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW
JERSEY BETWEEN LATE SUNDAY AND LATE MONDAY EVENING.
ALL THIS RAIN WILL BE IN ADVANCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WHICH WILL BECOME A POWERFUL STORM HEADING ASHORE SOMEWHERE IN OR NEAR NEW JERSEY MONDAY NIGHT.
UNCERTAINTY EXISTS AS TO THE NORTHWARD EXTENT OF THE FOUR INCH AMOUNTS. HIGHEST CONFIDENCE FOR 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN IS IN DELAWARE AND MARYLANDS EASTERN SHORE.
POCKETS OF SMALL STREAM FLOODING AND CONSIDERABLE URBAN FLOODING SHOULD DEVELOP MONDAY MORNING AND THEN GROW INTO LARGER MAINSTEM RIVER FLOODING LATE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT.
IF THE STORM MOVES FASTER THAN CURRENTLY PREDICTED ,FLOOD POTENTIAL WOULD BEGIN SOONER.
PRESUMING THE FORECAST RAINFALL OCCURS,THE LARGER SLOWER RESPONDING RIVER FLOODING COULD LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
AT THIS TIME IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO SPECIFY RIVERS AND PARTICULAR BASINS THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE FLOODING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS, A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. * LOCATION...COASTAL AREAS OF DELAWARE...INCLUDING DELAWARE BAY AND THE TIDAL DELAWARE RIVER. * COASTAL FLOODING...MODERATE TO MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING IS ANTICIPATED WITHIN 2 TO 3 HOURS EITHER SIDE OF THE HIGH TIDES SUNDAY EVENING AND AGAIN MONDAY MORNING-MIDDAY. THIS WILL BE LONG DURATION TIDAL FLOODING AND PROBABLE ROAD CLOSURES AND POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE WHERE WATER ENCROACHES ON PARKING LOTS AND BUILDINGS. * AT LEWES DELAWARE THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 838 PM SUNDAY AND 855 AM MONDAY. AT REEDY POINT DELAWARE THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 1111 PM SUNDAY AND 1131 AM MONDAY. AT PHILADELPHIA THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 138 AM SUNDAY AND 2 PM MONDAY. * SEAS...ALONG THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SIDE OF DELAWARE SEAS WILL BE 15 TO POSSIBLY 20 FEET WHILE IN THE LOWER DELAWARE SEAS WILL BE 6 TO 10 FEET AND THE UPPER PART OF DELAWARE BAY BETWEEN 2 AND 4 FEET. THIS ADDED OVER-WASH WILL THREATEN CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES. * RAINFALL...4 TO POSSIBLY 8 INCHES OF RAINFALL BY NOON MONDAY WILL ADD TO THE LOCAL STREAM FLOW ON THE TIDAL DELAWARE INCREASING THE ODDS OF MAJOR FLOODING! * DURATION...MODERATE OR GREATER TIDAL FLO0DING MAY LAST 3 TO 5 HOURS DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE! * PRECURSOR FLOOD EPISODE...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS LIKELY DURING THE SUNDAY MORNING-MIDDAY HIGH TIDE BUT THAT WILL BE DWARFED BY WHAT FOLLOWS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERATE OR MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO UPDATED FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.
OCEAN,SALEM,SOMERSET,SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON AND WESTERN MONMOUTH. IN PENNSYLVANIA,BERKS,BUCKS,CHESTER, DELAWARE,LEHIGH,MONTGOMERY,NORTHAMPTON AND PHILADELPHIA.
FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT
FOUR TO 8 INCHES OF WIND SWEPT RAIN WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER DELAWARE, MARYLANDS EASTERN SHORE, SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW
JERSEY BETWEEN LATE SUNDAY AND LATE MONDAY EVENING.
ALL THIS RAIN WILL BE IN ADVANCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WHICH WILL BECOME A POWERFUL STORM HEADING ASHORE SOMEWHERE IN OR NEAR NEW JERSEY MONDAY NIGHT.
UNCERTAINTY EXISTS AS TO THE NORTHWARD EXTENT OF THE FOUR INCH AMOUNTS. HIGHEST CONFIDENCE FOR 4 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN IS IN DELAWARE AND MARYLANDS EASTERN SHORE.
POCKETS OF SMALL STREAM FLOODING AND CONSIDERABLE URBAN FLOODING SHOULD DEVELOP MONDAY MORNING AND THEN GROW INTO LARGER MAINSTEM RIVER FLOODING LATE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT.
IF THE STORM MOVES FASTER THAN CURRENTLY PREDICTED ,FLOOD POTENTIAL WOULD BEGIN SOONER.
PRESUMING THE FORECAST RAINFALL OCCURS,THE LARGER SLOWER RESPONDING RIVER FLOODING COULD LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
AT THIS TIME IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO SPECIFY RIVERS AND PARTICULAR BASINS THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE FLOODING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS, A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. * LOCATION...COASTAL AREAS OF DELAWARE...INCLUDING DELAWARE BAY AND THE TIDAL DELAWARE RIVER. * COASTAL FLOODING...MODERATE TO MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING IS ANTICIPATED WITHIN 2 TO 3 HOURS EITHER SIDE OF THE HIGH TIDES SUNDAY EVENING AND AGAIN MONDAY MORNING-MIDDAY. THIS WILL BE LONG DURATION TIDAL FLOODING AND PROBABLE ROAD CLOSURES AND POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE WHERE WATER ENCROACHES ON PARKING LOTS AND BUILDINGS. * AT LEWES DELAWARE THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 838 PM SUNDAY AND 855 AM MONDAY. AT REEDY POINT DELAWARE THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 1111 PM SUNDAY AND 1131 AM MONDAY. AT PHILADELPHIA THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE ARE 138 AM SUNDAY AND 2 PM MONDAY. * SEAS...ALONG THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SIDE OF DELAWARE SEAS WILL BE 15 TO POSSIBLY 20 FEET WHILE IN THE LOWER DELAWARE SEAS WILL BE 6 TO 10 FEET AND THE UPPER PART OF DELAWARE BAY BETWEEN 2 AND 4 FEET. THIS ADDED OVER-WASH WILL THREATEN CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO BEACHFRONT PROPERTIES. * RAINFALL...4 TO POSSIBLY 8 INCHES OF RAINFALL BY NOON MONDAY WILL ADD TO THE LOCAL STREAM FLOW ON THE TIDAL DELAWARE INCREASING THE ODDS OF MAJOR FLOODING! * DURATION...MODERATE OR GREATER TIDAL FLO0DING MAY LAST 3 TO 5 HOURS DURING THE HIGH TIDE CYCLE! * PRECURSOR FLOOD EPISODE...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS LIKELY DURING THE SUNDAY MORNING-MIDDAY HIGH TIDE BUT THAT WILL BE DWARFED BY WHAT FOLLOWS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERATE OR MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO UPDATED FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS.
