Police, First Responders Praised for Storm Response

Elected officials praised the work of the township's emergency responders in the wake of a severe storm that rolled through the area last Friday.

Police, firefighters and medics responded to a total of 110 calls, 70 police calls and 40 fire calls, after a powerful line of storms passed through Brick, downing trees, flooding roads and damaging buildings.

An additional situation arose at Ocean Medical Center after the hospital lost power. While no evacuations were ordered, the hospital's air conditioning systems failed and the Brick police department set up a mobile command center outside the facility.

The glitch in the hospital's backup power system was eventually traced to a fault in the fuel delivery system, Council President Brian DeLuca said Tuesday. The township helped deliver fuel to the hospital and restore power to the emergency backup systems.

“Friday’s storm was a stark reminder of the power of Mother Nature,” said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.  “I am proud of how our police and public works employees responded to this storm.  They began working immediately after the storm to clean the community.”

The storm knocked out power to traffic lights at the township's busiest intersections, and police responded with minutes to direct traffic. DeLuca said Tuesday that police officers and members of the township volunteer CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team, went "above and beyond" the call of duty, checking in on residents at every nursing and convalescent facility in town as well as homebound senior citizens.

There were no reports of any injuries during the storm, DeLuca said.

By Tuesday, most areas of the township that were affected by the storm had been cleared of debris, said DeLuca. Heavy equipment and roll-off style trucks carted away debris from the storm that had fallen in roadways or had been left out by residents.

DeLuca said residents who have storm-related debris should call 732-451-4060 to get debris picked up. The township cannot, by law, make repairs or collect debris from private property, however.

“Our thoughts are with any resident who suffered damage and lost property," Acropolis said. "Thankfully, we did not receive any reports of injuries which is most important."