Sandy making her presence known in Ocean City

Written by Claire Lowe Monday, October 29, 2012 01:16 pm

Several warnings in effect, flood waters take over roadways

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OCEAN CITY – Residents have been bracing themselves as Hurricane Sandy continues on its path toward South Jersey on Monday. From photos and first-hand accounts, flooding, which began at high tide on Sunday continues throughout the island.

Several warnings remain in place as Gov. Chris Christie announced a federal state of emergency for New Jersey.

Ocean City issued a statement 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29 announcing all access routes off the island are now closed and will remain so during the next several hours.

Residents still in Ocean City are advised to remain indoors on Monday as weather conditions continue to deteriorate. Roads are impassable and are likely to remain so for the duration of the storm, the warning states. Also, no one is being permitted on the beach.

The National Hurricane Service in Miami, Fla. issued an advisory 11 a.m. Monday noting that as Sandy is expected to turn northwest soon, it could bring life-threatening storm surges and coastal hurricane winds.

The center of Sandy is expected to make landfall along or just south of the Southern New Jersey coast this evening or tonight. Reports from an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph. Sandy is expected to transition into a frontal or wintertime low pressure system prior to landfall.

According to the NHC, the combination of an extremely dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach 4-8 feet.

Elevated water levels could span multiple tide cycles resulting in repeated and extended periods of coastal and bayside flooding.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a flood warning through midnight tonight, a flood watch through Tuesday afternoon and a high wind warning through 9 a.m. Tuesday for Cape May County.

Record tidal flooding will continue along the coast into tonight. At Atlantic City, this evening’s high tide occurs at 8 p.m. with a forecast tide level around 9.5 feet above mean lower low water. In comparison, the tide level during Hurricane Gloria maxed out at 8.8 feet. Heavy rain near the time of high tide will not drain and it will worsen the tidal flooding.

Sandy has intensified and will be powerful as it slams into the coast this evening with periods of widespread damaging wind gusts between 65 and 85 mph.

According to the latest update from the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management, as of 6:30 a.m. Monday, heavy rain was continuing to move into the county with some locations receiving 1 to 3 inches of rain. As rain continues to fall all day, rainfall totals may reach 10 inches by the end of the day on Tuesday.

A mandatory evacuation has been in place since 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28. Access to barrier islands, including Ocean City, is being controlled by local police.

Four National Guard high-wheel vehicles are positioned in Cape May County in Upper Township, Lower Township, Wildwood and at the Emergency Communications Center

Shelters are open in Cape May County with approximately 400 residents at the shelters

Two Animal Shelters are open in Cape May County: Upper Township Middle School and Cape May County Airport.

Cape May County Government offices are closed Monday to the public. Essential personnel continue to work. All county parks and the zoo are closed through Tuesday and the senior centers are also closed through Tuesday. Fare Free Transportation is providing homebound meals and is assisting in transportation needs.
All barrier island libraries are closed, however some on the Cape remain open including:
Main Library in Cape May Court House, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 463-6350; Lower Township, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 886-8900; Upper Township, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 638-2607; Woodbine, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 861-2501.

Governor Christie announced Monday that federal aid has been made available to the state of New Jersey to supplement the state and local emergency response efforts resulting from Hurricane Sandy.

“This assistance will enhance the State's capability to respond quickly and put assets into place where they are needed to help New Jersey residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy," Christie said. 
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority announced that it has closed the Garden State Parkway to traffic in both directions from Exit 38 at the Atlantic City Expressway to the toll road’s southern terminus in Cape May County. The decision to close this approximately 35-mile section of the Parkway was made about 10 a.m. due to flooding in several locations.  It will remain closed until further notice.

Those interested in volunteering can call the state’s volunteer emergency response hotline at 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). If storm conditions preclude the hotline from being answered by live operators, volunteers may call one of two backup hotline numbers: 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471.  Volunteers may also send an email to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Already trained volunteers affiliated with an emergency response organization should contact that agency to register readiness to receive an assignment.

Those who need help from volunteers and other services may call 2-1-1 or go online at www.nj211.org.

For information concerning New Jersey's response to Hurricane Sandy, see www.ready.nj.gov.

Jennifer Palermo of Waverly Bouleveard captures the flooding near her home.

Carla Migliaccio, who lives on on 900 block of Palen Avenue, took this photo of the flooding on Sunday due to impending Hurricane Sandy.

Carla Migliaccio, who lives on on 900 block of Palen Avenue, took this photo of the flooding on Sunday due to impending Hurricane Sandy.

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The Dolisznys took these photos at First and Simpson.

The Dolisznys took these photos at First and Simpson.

Ken Cooper captures flooding at 1 Park Place.

Roosevelt Boulevard is under water.

Kim Weiland took these shots at First and Simpson.

Kim Weiland took these shots at First and Simpson.

Cathy Finnegan took this photo from her front door in the 2100 block of West Avenue at 9 a.m. on Monday.

Cathy Finnegan took this photo from her front door in the 2100 block of West Avenue at 9 a.m. on Monday.

Cathy Finnegan took this photo from her front door in the 2100 block of West Avenue at 9 a.m. on Monday.

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