Point Boro Asks Residents to Be Ready for Storm

In anticipation of what could be a significant winter storm approaching New Jersey, Point Pleasant Borough officials are asking residents to be smart, heed the warnings being issued, and develop a plan just in case.

But while the warnings should be taken seriously, Councilman Christopher Leitner said it shouldn't be a time to panic, but simply prepare.

A mid-Atlantic storm on its way to New Jersey is expected to bring heavy winds, rain and snow, and possible flooding to coastal communities. In Point Pleasant Borough, officials have asked residents to move their vehicles to higher ground and consider voluntarily evacuating, should they feel unsafe during the storm.

Rain is expected to begin late Wednesday morning and could turn to snow by the evening. Sustained winds of more than 20 miles per hour are likely with gusts topping 40 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

It's also possible New Jersey will escape the worst of it. Leitner said it's the borough's job to inform and prepare its residents by relating what could happen, not what its officials hope will happen.

"We dodged a bullet with (Hurricane) Irene. Sandy was worse than we even imagined," he said. "We've been told there's a potential for significant coastal flooding and we're not ignoring that."

In addition to passing along warnings and offering voluntary evacuations, the borough is also preparing for the storm by putting its Department of Public Works on the job.

Councilman Bill Borowsky said crews have been cleaning storm drains for the past few weeks which should help alleviate potential flooding problems. All of the town's trucks and machinery are working and ready to go, he said. 

Should snow fall in the borough, plows and salt trucks will be ready.

The borough is also pursuing a reverse 911 calling system to alert residents to potential storm threats, though Leitner said discussion about implementing that kind of system won't come until the town addresses its budget.

But ultimately, Leitner said it's up to the residents to do what's best for themselves in regards to storm planning. After Sandy, the need to prepare for the worst case scenarios isn't lost on anyone. 

"I think our residents are wise enough to pay attention to the forecasts," he said. "They're certainly more aware of them they've ever been."