Middletown Evacuates East of Route 36, Locust; Command Center in Operation

Late yesterday afternoon, Middletown officials got the go-ahead from state and county authorities to call for mandatory evacuations in certain spots in the township, . 

Today, firemen and police are riding around the township in those designated areas and alerting people that they must leave if they haven't yet.

A command center at town hall is now in full operation.

The following are two full notices released by officials:

Middletown Mayor Fiore and the Office of Emergency Management have declared a mandatory evacuation as a result of impending Hurricane Irene. Areas subject to mandatory evacuation are:

All areas located between Route 36 and the Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay from the Keansburg border to the Atlantic Highlands Border.

 ALSO

The following streets South of Route 36: Texas Avenue, Briarcliff Avenue, Montana Avenue, from Illinois Avenue to Pews Creek.

ALSO

Hartshorne Road in Navesink including Washington Lane, Clay Court, Tan Vat Road, Grand Tour, Indian Terrace, Wigwam Road

Mandatory evacuation is effective immediately. All residents must be out of these areas by noon pm on Saturday, August 27. No one will be permitted to return to these areas until they are deemed safe by local authorities.

For all other areas of Middletown, it is strongly recommended that you consider relocating to a safer location.

Shelters are currently open at Holmdel High School and Wall Township High School. A temporary shelter will open at noon on Saturday at the Croydon Hall Senior Center, 900 Leonardville. 

The notice sent out Friday morning:

Mayor Anthony P. Fiore issued a state of emergency as of 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, for Middletown Township, following Gov. Chris Christie’s and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholder’s declaration of a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Irene.

Right now, residents living in coastal and low-lying areas are urged to evacuate voluntarily, especially those who have experienced flooding before.

Evacuation Routes

Weather Updates - www.noaawatch.gov

Additional Hurricane Information.  

Monmouth County has established Red Cross shelters in Holmdel High School, 36 Crawford’s Corner Rd., Holmdel, and Wall High School, 1630 18th Avenue, Wall. The shelters will open at 5 p.m. today. Please note pets are not allowed in the shelters.

• Directions to Holmdel High School
• Get Google Directions to Holdmel HS
• Wall High School Directions

Middletown Township will provide information updates as they become available via

• Telephone using the Reverse 911 system,
• Middletown Emergency Radio Station 1620 AM
• The township website at www.middletownnj.org,
• The township’s television station viewable on Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon Fios Channel 26, and
• E-mail and cell phone text message.

Residents must be registered with the Township Citizen Communications System to receive e-mail updates and cell phone text messages. Residents can register for alerts and updates at https://middletownnj.my.gov-i.com/signup Registration is not required to receive Reverse 911 phone messages.

Gov. Christie  warned potential visitors not to come to the shore this weekend, and he urged residents and visitors along the shore to leave tonight.

A state of emergency will allow the Office of Emergency Management to mobilize all county resources and direct them where they are needed to protect life and property. These actions can include ordering mandatory evacuations and controlling traffic on all roadways.

Irene is expected to arrive Saturday night and continue with high winds and rain throughout the day on Sunday. The governor said he is considering ordering a mandatory evacuation, and the county will follow suit if and when that decision is made.

For everyone else, it is important to prepare for the storm before it hits.

Middletown Emergency Management Coordinator Charles W. Rogers strongly suggests that residents assemble a kit of emergency supplies, creating an emergency plan and tuning into local radio and television for current information.

Recommended items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

• Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both • Flashlight and extra batteries

• First aid kit

• Whistle to signal for help

• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers  

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses

• Infant formula and diapers

• Pet food and extra water for your pet

• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

• Cash or traveler's checks and change

• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov

• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate. ·    • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.

• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

• Fire Extinguisher

• Matches in a waterproof container

• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items ·         Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels

• Paper and pencil

• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Plan – create an emergency plan — Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan a way to contact one another, such as enlisting the help of a third party in another state as a contact, and review what you will do in different situations.

Stay informed — Listen to local radio and television for information on storms and other emergencies.

For the story yesterday on the entire Bayshore .