Blogfinger

SEND US AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE BRIEF ITEMS TO POST HERE  (Blogfinger@verizon.net)    — PG

TUESDAY ITEMS:

Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. — Belmar’s boardwalk has been destroyed. The Asbury Park Press quotes Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty as saying small portions of the promenade remain intact but that the northern half of the boardwalk sustained severe damage and the southern half is completely destroyed. Debris from the boardwalk is spread out over several blocks, Doherty said, at least as far inland as two blocks from Ocean Avenue.

Evidently things got dramatic in Belmar. Twitter tells of Belmar Water Rescue heroically swimming to people’s homes to rescue them.

MONDAY ITEMS:

Monday, 6:45 a.m.  Steady fairly heavy rain with winds of perhaps 30 mph in OG.

Monday, 7:00 a.m. If you are taking pictures, be sure to take some in locations around town other than the beachfront. We want images of different neighborhoods — flooding, damage, trees whatever. We have lots of gigabytes just hanging around waiting to be electrified.

Monday, 7:10 a.m. Shore area: Water coming over sea wall in Sea Bright. Beaches in Manasquan and Spring Lake already covered in water. Parts of Toms River have lost power. (Source: NJ NPR)

Monday, 7:55 a.m. NJ Power and Light has imported 1,200 workers from all over the country on stand-by, but they cannot go to work to restore power until the storm is over.

Mon 10:00 a.m..   We just rode around town. The place seems deserted.   The streets are not flooded; not even Broadway.  The police would not let us walk onto the boardwalk to take a photo.  The officer said that I could try to get permission from “The Chief.”—–I don’t think so.  I watch Blue Bloods.

When we got home we were greeted by a patrol car that was driving around saying that there is now a mandatory evacuation for the whole town.  But later we received conflicting information that only flood prone areas are to have mandatory evacuation.   —-PG

Mon  10:30 a.m.  The township website is saying that only certain streets have mandatory evacuation.  Go to Township Website link and then click on top for weather and streets to be evacuated.  Evidently it is only from Ocean Avenue to Beach that there are mandatory evacuations.

Mon 11 a.m.:     “Paul:  For the latest update on mandatory evacuations in OG, go to:

http://www.neptunetownship.org/emergencies-take-proper-action   and click on the link.  Mt. Hermon Way west of Beach Avenue is not under mandatory evacuation at this time.  Sandy (your neighbor–not the hurricane)”

Mon 12:45 p.m.:  Neptune Office of  Emergency Management has sent out a phone message saying that there are “restrictions of travel as of noon.”  Note also that you cannot get gas if there is no power.  The pumps don’t work.

They also said that if you have questions, you can call 732 988 5200.  The call reiterated that mandatory evacuation is only for flood prone areas. It also cautioned that emergency services will be limited once the storm hits with full force later.

Mon.  12:50 p.m.  We learned that part of Abbott Avenue lost power this morning for about two hours.  Also, all nonessential businesses must close by noon today and stay closed until the restriction is lifted.

Mon. 1 p.m.  From Katie Bridge Altieri:   “We are showing our support and keeping OG in our thoughts today. Sending our love from Hoboken!- The Altieri Family”

Altieri family loves OG

Monday, 2:30 p.m.   Driving and even walking in town now is prohibited (“restricted”).  Two walkers came by and said that the police turned them back.

Monday,, 4 p.m.   The wind is picking up in a striking manner.  In addition to the sound of the wind through the trees, a rumbling noise can be heard in the background.

Monday 4:06 p.m  Frank S: .Reporting From Franklin Ave.:   “Big tree down and lying across the street on easternmost block of Franklin Ave. Looks like it took down some lines and looks like it may have damaged a car or two. Hard to say exactly as I am a block away and visibility is limited. Tree was on north side of block and fell southward. So far here on Franklin on south side of town we still have power.”

Monday 4:06 p.m.  From “Even More Grounded in Reality:”        I am in Ocean Grove right now. I wish people would stop encouraging Ocean Grove residents to go outside and take pictures. The winds are extremely high and the chances of being hit by something is very real. By going outside, not only are people at risk but emergency response teams would also be put at risk. I know we all are interested in what is happening, but let’s not make a bad thing worse.

Monday 5:30 p.m.  This song is for Annie Albrecht of Ocean Pathway who’s worried about Ocean Grove:

Monday 5:40 p.m.  Center of storm should hit us at 6 p.m.  The center may hit south of us in Atlantic City.

Monday 5:50 p.m.    This song is for Wisher, who’s by himself over by Wesley Lake.  We wish you shelter from the storm:

Monday 5;55 pm  Mary Walton reports that there are people on the boardwalk now and even on the pier. The police are not there to stop them.

Monday 6 p.m.   Inquiry from Prosper:    Are there any reports of power outages?
How far is the surf from the boardwalk?

6:08  p.m.   From Jason:     My understanding is that the storm has just hit the mainland centered on Cape May County. If true, then this is a lot less of a storm than hyped by everyone. I’m certainly not complaining, but it seems like this kind of over-estimation of storms happens every time. This is supposed to be the worst storm in recorded history, but its really no worse than Irene and maybe not even that bad.

6:10 p.m.  From Landlover:    I’m here in Lawrenceville, NJ, the wind has died down to nothing and it is hardly raining at all. What happened to the storm? Are you all still experiencing “Storm of the Century” conditions?

6:29 p.m.   Word is that the storm is moving faster and may outrace the high tide at 8:00 p.m.  The surge may be 11 feet;  it was 9 feet for Irene.  PG

6:50 p.m.  Here’s an old fashioned weather report. Stepping out on my second floor porch, I find a light rain,  very vigorous  winds , no flooding around Firemens Park, nobody driving by, electric is on and the temp is 60 degrees.

7:00  From Concerned Resident:    I was at the ocean front and around town at 4:30 p.m. The fishing pier was still in tack and the ocean was just starting to reach the boardwalk.(the ocean was pretty wild but was not going over the boardwalk) There were a few trees down throughtout the town.(firemen’s park area and on the corner of Main and Central by Nagles) Fletcher Lake was completely full but not going over the banks. The good news was that the streets were not flooded just a little pooling.and that includes the Broadway area by the lake..(usually a flood area). Our concerns were the Broadway Drainage problems by the lake.(incomplete project and constuction site debris)but so far no flooding. Good News as of Late Monday afternoon and early evening. Lets hope this continues.

7:05:      As of 6:40, about an hour before high tide, Wesley Lake is cresting. The east wind has died down a lot right now, but it is still gusting. Keeping fingers crossed.

7:06 p.m.  We have received word from Eileen F.  that THE PIER IS GONE. She says, “The landscape of Ocean Grove will change….sad news”.   Also, the phones at the Municipal Bldg and the police station are down.

8:15 p.m. A reader, West Neptuner, writes: “I have it from folks close to Ocean Ave that the pier is gone.” (Mayor Randy Bishop also confirms this.)