Sunday marks the first anniversary of the storm that pulled trees from their roots, flooded cars, decimated homes and businesses and left thousands without power. While Irene blew through Matawan, Aberdeen and neighboring Bayshore towns in August 2011, Matawan-Aberdeen Patch was there to cover the hurricane that, despite a devastating aftermath, was downgraded to a tropical storm. One year later, we want to know: Does the storm continue to impact you? What changes did you make in and around your home? Did your business survive the wind and flood damage? Are there still areas that remain …
By Tom Johnson of NJSpotlight.com The state is broadening its investigation into how New Jersey's four electric utilities handled events in the wake of Hurricane Irene, a storm that left 1.8 million people without power at one point or another. Acting on a recommendation from staff, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) authorized the hiring of a special consultant to analyze how the utilities planned, executed restoration efforts, and communicated with local officials and their customers during the days following the storm -- which has been described by one official as the worst weather-…
Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday urged those impacted by Hurricane Irene to seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency - and Neptune will serve as FEMA's hub site for New Jersey. Beginning Wednesday, the Joint Field Office in Neptune will serve as the field office for all federal and New Jersey Office of Emergency Management relief efforts throughout the state. "Representatives from the departments will be located here to ensure that we're all working together, officially and effectively, in a coordinated manner to get assistance to folks as quickly as possible," he said. …
President Barack Obama has declared Monmouth County a major disaster area. Congressman Frank Pallone, D-6, said he was notified of President Obama's decision on Saturday. Obama also declared Middlesex County a major disaster area. Sixteen New Jersey counties are now eligible for possible relief from FEMA: Atlantic, Bergen, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. Gov. Chris Christie previously requested assistance for all 21 New Jersey counties, but damage assessments need to be concluded before …
Monmouth County Health Department inspectors have been busy visiting restaurants and grocery stores that lost power or sustained damage during Hurricane Irene, according to Monmouth County Public Health Coordinator Michael Meddis. “I haven’t seen an inspector in two days. They’ve been out constantly,” he said. The department is responsible for assessing conditions at food establishments in 23 Monmouth County towns. The Monmouth Regional Health Department and five municipal health departments in Colts Neck, Freehold Township, Long Branch, Middletown and Manalapan oversee businesses in the rest…
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Tom Considine has offered tips to consumers on filing insurance claims in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Following the Disaster Once it is safe to return home, assess the damage and make temporary repairs or arrange for a qualified professional to do so in order to protect your property. Take photos of the damage and remove personal property if your home cannot be secured. Make a list of damaged property. Do not dispose of property until an insurance adjuster has reviewed it for your claim. Many policies include reimbursement for …
Would-be customers strolled around the Aberdeen Townsquare Shopping Center on Route 34 Wednesday afternoon, walking past closed storefront after closed storefront. The Hobby Shop, Mahzu Japanese Restaurant, the Verizon Store and Eli's Hot Bagels all sat dark and silent, after they and many others lost power Saturday night. Denino's Pizza Place was no exception, with its doors tightly shut and a 'Closed - No Power' sign taped to the window. According to owner Michael Denino, this family establishment did not only lose money by being forced to close their doors for three business days, but also…
The majority of the remaining 130,000 JCP&L customers without power should be restored by the weekend, with full restoration by early next week, according to a statement released Wednesday by FirstEnergy. Over 4,000 customers in Matawan and Aberdeen remain without power as of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, according to the FirstEnergy Web site. More than 770,000 FirstEnergy customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland have been restored after losing power due to Hurricane Irene. Overall, 920,000 customers were affected by the storm. Crews continue working to restore service to the approximately …
If you experience flooding related to Hurricane Irene, the Monmouth County Health Department recommends taking precautions to keep you and your family safe. Monmouth County experienced significant wave action and 9 to 12 inches of rainfall that contributed to inland and coastal flooding. “Flood waters caused by the hurricane is impacting Monmouth County residents greatly,” Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley said. “Flood water can create special challenges with cleanup efforts; so be sure to take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.” The Monmouth County Health…
A message from the Aberdeen Township Office Of Emergency Management: JCP&L has indicated that there are crews working in our area, but that power outages may last several more days. Free water and ice is being provided to residents who are still without power. Residents need to present a drivers license and JCP&L bill for $5.00 worth of ice and/or water. A limited amount of water will be available at the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management parking lot located at 300 Halls Mill Rd., Freehold, NJ 07728 after 4:00 PM on Monday August 29th. Below is a list of food stores that will …
In a statement sent out to residents via email and automated phone call last night, the Office of Emergency Management and the mayor's office announced that power had been restored to over 4,000 residents. According to Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Falco, power was restored to 4,738 households, while 4,010 remain without power as of last night. The exact numbers on the JCP&L website vary slightly, with reports on their outage map that 4,414 in Matawan and 234 in Aberdeen are still without power. However, Falco says this variation is due to the fact that numbers on the …
A message from Monmouth County: Hurricane Irene has caused major headaches for many homeowners. Basements are flooded, roofs are damaged by strong winds and trees are down.“You may feel pressured to hire the first contractor you speak with because your life has been turned upside down,” said Freeholder Lillian Burry, liaison to the Monmouth County Department of Consumer Affairs. “But don’t. The county’s Consumer Affairs staff has some great information and reminders for you to take into consideration before you move forward with your repairs.”This is what consumers need to know before …
Two Middletown men are being charged with theft after they were caught stealing power lines downed by Hurricane Irene in Matawan, according to police. Police say that Edward Smith, 30, and Joseph Cappola, 21, rented a Home Depot van and attempted to solicit hurricane debri clean up from residents on Ned Drive Tuesday morning. According to Matawan Lt. Ben Smith, the men then began collecting power lines pulled down by a large tree that fell Sunday afternoon during the heavy winds after the storm. Lt. Smith said Sgt. Jerry Hourihan was patrolling the area when he noticed the men attempting to …
It is a story that has become all too familiar in the last few days. A small brook running through the woods was transformed into a rushing river of destruction as Hurricane Irene poured her 9 to 12 inches of rain onto the already saturated area. The victim this time was a small footbridge connecting Chilton Lane and Cypress Lane in Aberdeen. The concrete and galvanized steel were no match against the strong current. Rich Eisenbeis, who lives on Chilton Lane next to the footbridge, noticed the damage when he emerged Sunday morning from his power-less home to evaluate the damage. "The water …
A Keansburg man was arrested at the Holmdel High School Evacuation Center on Saturday night and was charged with lewdness, a fourth degree crime. Muhammed Ikram, 32, of 18 Seaview Ave. in Keansburg is alleged to have deliberately exposed his genitals to a child under the age of 13 around 10:30 p.m. on August 27, said Holmdel Det. Louis Torres. The girl and her mother reported it to police at the site. Ikram was taken to Holmdel Police Headquarters and processed before being taken to Monmouth County Correctional Institution at midnight. Ikram was released on $5,000 bail Tuesday, August 30, …
Lara Dela Rosa-Hona is one of the over 300 Aberdeen residents without power after Hurricane Irene barreled through the area this weekend. Dela Rosa-Hona, who lives on Prospect Avenue in the Cliffwood Beach section of town with her husband and three children, said that the power went out Saturday night toward the end of the 11 p.m. news. "I was watching the news and I said, oh jeeze, people are starting to lose power already. Then our power went out," she said. As of Monday, her power remained off and she decided left her home with her children to stay with her mother-in-law in Piscataway. "We…
Matawan-Aberdeen Patch reader Jim Sandy submitted the above photos of Hurricane Irene's aftermath, which left over 5,000 Matawan and Aberdeen residents without power, closed multiple roads, destroyed Ravine Drive and flooded multiple homes. Do you have photos or videos of the storm or of the storm's damage that you would like to share? Simply click "Add photos & videos" and follow the prompts. Don't forget to add a caption, so that we know where you took the photo or video. Just so you know, we want you to see Patch as more than your local newspaper. It's a place for you to reach out to your …
Hurricane Irene rolled into town Saturday afternoon, bringing the type of ominous, dark clouds that let you know something is about to happen. Thousands of people up and down the East coast had prepared for this storm, stocking up on groceries, bottled water, candles, batteries and anything else you might need during a potential natural disaster. A sense of uncertainty lingered in the air of all of the major retailers, with empty shelves lining the walls where bread was once stocked. On one hand, the Weather Channel and News 12 were prediction the storm of the century, a category 3 or 4 …
As New Jersey begins to reassemble itself after Hurricane Irene's weekend of destruction, concerns have been raised over the quality of ocean water. On August 26, one day before the effects of Hurricane Irene began along the Jersey Shore, New Jersey Department of Environmental Commissioner Bob Martin signed an order closing shellfish beds statewide. "This predicted precipitation, high winds and storm surge will likely result in significant flooding, power outages, sewage bypasses and sanitary sewer overflows resulting in degraded water quality," the order read. One such sewerage spill has …
Hurricane Irene struck New Jersey on Aug. 27, and its force has become a reality. Marlboro streets are lined with debris, and Route 520 is closed in one part due to a large tree tangled with power lines. Flooding is apparent on many roads, including Tennant Road, and residents woke up Sunday morning to front yards becoming lakes and damage to landscaping and structure. Sunday morning, a home on Nolan Road in Morganville had a partial collapse of its first floor into the basement. Mayor Jon Horink said, "The issue now is power and restoration." As of 11:23 this morning, JCP&L is reporting over…
