Bordentown Regional School District cancels Monday and Tuesday classes
By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Bordentown Regional School District has cancelled classes on Monday, Oct. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 30, in light of Hurricane Sandy.
The storm is moving up the East Coast and is slated to turn toward land on Monday, bringing with it heavy winds, flooding and massive rainfall, as of 10 p.m. press time on Sunday.
The National Weather Service warned Sunday that a very large and dangerous Hurricane Sandy was continuing to move parallel to the East Coast, with a turn to the northwest expected tonight and early Monday.
The NWS has issued high wind and coastal flood warnings, a flood watch and hazardous weather outlook for Bordentown Township and Bordentown City.
Sandy is expected to make landfall along the central New Jersey coast Monday evening, the NWS said.
Bordentown Township’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be operational Monday morning at the police station conference room.
”We have backup power at the building,” said Deputy Mayor Michael Dauber on Sunday.
Additionally, Bordentown Township municipal offices will be closed tomorrow — with the exception of essential personnel. The Township Committee meeting slated for Monday night has been cancelled.
According to an 8 p.m. advisory issued by the NWS, Sandy is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the New York Harbor, as well as coastal hurricane winds and heavy Appalachian snows.
The storm is anticipated to impact 60 million Americans.
There is a 4- to 8-ft storm surge expected to impact the coast of New Jersey, according to The Weather Channel. Elsewhere the storm surge was predicted to be as high as 10-ft.
Across the nation, Hurricane Sandy is being referred to as Frankenstorm.
Hurricane Sandy is set to merge with a freezing cold front from the west and as well as Arctic air from the north, according to the Associated Press. Hence its name — Frankenstorm.
Additionally, there will be a full moon tomorrow night, Oct. 29, which creates high tides.
Gov. Chris Christie on Saturday declared a state of emergency throughout New Jersey ahead of Hurricane Sandy.
State offices will be closed on Monday, as will New Jersey Transit lines, the governor announced on Sunday.
”I am urging all New Jerseyans to take every possible and reasonable precaution to ready themselves for the storm’s potential impact,” Gov. Chris Christie said.
Hurricane Sandy is set to strike New Jersey 13 months after Hurricane Irene brought historic flooding to municipalities throughout the state.
From New York to Pennsylvania, bottled water was sold out at many businesses over the weekend, and some stations were out of gasoline Sunday.
Bordentown Township, as well as many municipalities throughout Central Jersey, has issued Hurricane Sandy warnings for residents on its website.
As of Sunday evening, the NWS forecast 70-mph winds on Monday night in Bordentown City. Rainfall is slated for New Jersey throughout the week, with the heaviest rainfall predicated for the area on Monday.
According to the Office of the Governor, “Drivers are advised to drive with caution, follow the rules of the road, stay alert and respect the weather elements that may impact their drive. Unnecessary travel is not recommended.”
Call the non-emergency Police Department phone number, 609-298-4300, to reach the Bordentown Township EOC. All emergencies must be reported via 911, according to the township website.
For more information, visit www.weather.gov or www.state.nj.us.
Motorists may check current road conditions via the New Jersey Department of Transportation, www.NJ511.info.