Community Corner

Aberdeen Braces for Heavy Flooding

Emergency officials are taking precautions in anticipation of heavy flooding

Local emergency officials are bracing for heavy flooding in Aberdeen Township, especially on Amboy Rd., Aberdeen Rd., Route 35 between County Rd. and Cliffwood Ave., and Lakeshore Dr., according to Aberdeen Deputy Chief of Police Rick Derechailo.

These roads commonly experience flooding during regular storms, so emergency personnel - the fire department, EMS, Public Works and the township police - are taking extra precautions.

An emergency message was issued by the police department last night through the township's reverse 911 system at approximately 7 p.m., notifying residents that Monmouth County declared a state of emergency and urging residents in flood-prone areas to voluntarily evacuate.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township police have also been traveling door-to-door in these areas to request that residents voluntarily evacuate. Derechailo said those along the bay, especially on Beach Drive in Cliffwood Beach, should very seriously consider relocating to a location further inland for the weekend.

Township police and Public Works personnel and machinery will be put in strategic locations on Saturday afternoon, allowing more areas within the town to be reached in the event of a flood.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fire companies and first aid will also be on standby at their respective buildings, Derechailo said, in order to expedite their response time in the case of an emergency.

Derechailo also encourages residents to secure bicycles, lawn furniture and anything not firmly tied down. He said it is important to disconnect propane tanks from grills.

In the event of an emergency call 911. However, as Hurricane Irene approaches, emergency workers are reminding people that call volume skyrockets during a crisis. Many of the calls are non-emergency calls that could be better handled by another agency. 

Click for a partial list of phone numbers to call releated to specific problems you may have.

Aberdeen Township has issued the following information:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Delaware Bay and northward to Sandy Hook. Hurricane Irene is expected to impact our area beginning Saturday night into Sunday morning and last until late Sunday. High winds, heavy rainfall, and severe flooding are expected. Residents should secure outdoor items and avoid flooded roadways and downed power lines. Residents living in flood-prone areas are encouraged to relocate inland with friends or relatives. An emergency shelter has been established at Holmdel High School located at 36 Crawfords Corner Road. In the event of a power outage call JCP&L at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877. Please do not call police headquarters for power restoration information. Please monitor media outlets for storm updates. For more information go to www.ready.gov or http://
co.monmouth.nj.us/page.aspx?ID=3175.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here