Berkeley Heights, Mountainside Brace for Hurricane Irene

With Hurricane Irene about to bear down on the Northeast, New Jerseyans are taking measures to stay safe during the storm, both on state and local levels.

Governor Chris Christie has already issued a State of Emergency for the impending storm, expected to begin its impact on the Garden State on Saturday. According to a press release on the Governor’s webpage, Christie has already ordered evacuations for residents of the state’s coastal areas and barrier islands, waived tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway and the Garden State Parkway south of the Raritan River, and will be utilizing Routes 47 and 347 in Cape May County to direct all traffic westbound, beginning at 6 PM.

On a local level, Berkeley Heights Township Emergency Management Coordinator Anthony Padovano, Jr. released a statement urging residents to take extra precaution and to call 911 in case of an emergency.

An excerpt from the statement, released Thursday on the township’s website, is below:

“We encourage residents to take a proactive approach and plan ahead. Staying tuned into local news and weather reports in the coming days is especially helpful. Another excellent source of information is the Union County First Alert system. This service provides timely information to specific areas which can be useful during planning and decision making. We encourage residents to take care of their neighbors especially the elderly and those who may be in need of extra assistance during periods without electricity. Staying with friends or family or even an area hotel is also an option during periods when evacuations may be necessary.  Residents should be sure to check for flooding basements as this can affect electrical systems and gas fired heating and ventilation equipment. Also be aware of any low or leaning trees as they may come down in high winds.”

In Mountainside, the police and fire departments are working together to make sure residents are prepared for the storm. The police department has already sent out a First Alert message, telling residents to remove lightweight objects from their lawns, have extra batteries and flashlights on-hand, and to follow television, radio, and First Alert messages for storm information to avoid calling the police department with general questions.

“We’re asking residents to only call police headquarters in the case of an actual emergency,” said Lieutenant Alan Attanasio of the Mountainside Police Department. “That way, people who are having an actual emergency can get through.”

The Mountainside Fire Department has advised residents to not leave burning candles unattended, and to extinguish them before going to sleep.

For more information on how to prepare for Hurricane Irene as it approaches New Jersey, visit www.redcross.org or http://ready.nj.gov.