Community Corner
Hurricane Watch Issued for Shore as Irene Tracks Closer
Advisories issued for New Jersey; Irene still may grow in strength
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Monmouth and Ocean County residents face both voluntary and mandatory evacuations as a hurricane watch has been issued for the entire Jersey Shore region.
All of New Jersey's coastal counties, as well as portions of Burlington and Cumberland counties, and even the city of Philadelphia, are covered under the watch, which means hurricane conditions are possible over the next 48 hours.
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Hurricane Irene, packing winds of 115 m.p.h., was 830 miles south of Cape May at 5 p.m, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the watch.
"There is still some time for Irene to strengthen," an advisory, issued at 5 p.m. from the National Hurricane Center, said.
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The hurricane center's current forecast calls for Irene to be a category two storm – meaning it will have minimum sustained winds of at least 96 m.p.h. - when it nears New Jersey. Once inland, however, it will begin to rapidly decrease in intensity, the forecast said.
According to the hurricane center's 5 p.m. update, forecast models are now taking Irene's track very close to the coast, or even across the middle of New Jersey, farther west than even earlier Thursday.
"The confidence in the track forecast is increasing," the advisory said.
Long Beach Island residents will be forced to leave by Friday morning, and officials from Belmar, Berkeley and Toms River are asking residents who live near the shoreline to leave voluntarily.
Ocean County officials are suggesting steps people should take if weather forecasters turn out to be right.
Being ready can “help families avoid surprises, speed recovery and reduce losses,’’ according to Freeholder Gerry P. Little.
Daniel Regenye, the county’s public health coordinator, said storm ready people have an emergency supply kit, family emergency plan, and information about responding to the kinds of emergencies that make take place.
Suggestions for things the supply kit should include are available on the county Health Department Web site, ochd.org, according to the department spokeswoman, Leslie Terjesen. Food, water, and basic necessities for the family and pets for three days should be included, she explained.
Little said relatives should decide how they will contact one another, get back together, and react to different emergencies.
“Knowing what to do during any type of emergency is an important part of being prepared and can make all the difference when every second counts,’’ Regenye said.
National Preparedness Month is September. Officials still plan on distributing educational information then,, but Irene would not wait, Little said.
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