Point Beach: Get Out by 4 PM Sun. if East of Train Tracks

If you live east of the NJ Transit train tracks in Point Beach, get out by 4 p.m. Sunday.

That is the mandatory evacuation order issued tonight by Point Beach police and Point Beach Emergency Management.

Also, the town is banning alcohol sales from 5 p.m. Sunday until 5 p.m. Wednesday and mandating a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, according to the statement from police.

See attached PDF for information on locations of shelters and when they will be open.

Detective Pat Petruzziello, who issued the statement after meeting with local government and emergency management officials, said the joint decision to ban alcohol sales is primarily because the forecasts are predicting a strong storm with significant flooding, especially on Monday night when a full moon will heighten tidal flooding.

"There's going to be strong winds and significant flooding over a period of time," he said. "It's going to be a lengthy event through numerous tide cycles. We're anticipating quite a few days.

"We just don't want people hanging around town when we're trying to get them out," he added.

Police are bringing in additional manpower to deal with Sandy, he said.

He also said the police department is urging those evacuating to try to stay with friends or relatives rather than a shelter.

"A shelter is a last resort," he said.

Update regarding attached PDF: the shelter at Southern Regional is scheduled to open at noon Sunday.