FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Although residents were inconvenienced in many ways by the Oct. 29 storm known as Sandy, Mayor Anthony Ammiano believes Freehold Township “dodged a bullet.”
Ammiano said Department of Public Works employees took measures before the storm hit in an attempt to lessen its anticipated impact on the community. He said crews cleared storm drains and streams of leaves and brush in an attempt to forestall flooding issues that might develop.
Sandy’s wind and rain brought down trees throughout the township and caused a power outage that had not been fully repaired a week later. As of Nov. 6, the Silvermead adult community off Route 9 was still without power, according to a resident of that community.
Also as of Nov. 6, 2,100 customers of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) were still without power at various locations in Freehold Township.
After the storm, residents had to search for operating gas stations in order to keep their vehicles moving, but compared to the devastation that was felt at the Jersey Shore, Ammiano acknowledged that Freehold Township came through the storm relatively unscathed.
“We dodged the bullet with this,” Ammiano said. “Í know our residents are frustrated, some are even hostile. I know we are being inconvenienced with power outages, but compared to the shore areas such as Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright, we are very fortunate. And most importantly, we have had no loss of life and no storm-related injuries in the township. And to me, we have dodged the bullet this time.”
Ammiano said he was joined on a tour of the township on the morning of Oct. 30 by Deputy Mayor David Salkin, police Lt. Robert Brightman and police Sgt. Raymond Piccolini, who directs the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), to assess the damage to the town, its homes and businesses. The OEM command center was activated at police headquarters.
The mayor said at one point a rumor circulated in the township that the water was not safe. He said that rumor was not accurate.
As of Nov. 2, Ammiano said long lines at gas stations were still a problem.
“People were able to get gas for their generators at the Gulf station at Schanck and Stillwells Corner roads. People who were buying gas were able to park at the municipal building and walk to the gas station. A police officer was on duty to help people across the street,” he said.
Following the storm, residents were permitted to charge cell phones at the police department and the municipal complex.
Ammiano said police officers were working 16-hour shifts during the storm and in the days after it touched down.
Volunteer firefighters from the East Freehold Fire Company and the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company manned fire stations throughout the storm and for days afterward. Members of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad were also on duty during and after the storm to help people in need.
The mayor said everyone did an “absolutely awesome job” during the storm.
“It was a team effort on everyone’s part,” he said.
Ammiano said he remained in contact with Don Lynch, the president of JCP&L. One of the company’s priorities was restoring power to CentraState Medical Center and that was accomplished in a relatively short amount of time. Parts of the township, however, remained out of power until the evening of Nov. 2 and beyond.
Route 9 was said to be a priority because of the number of gas stations on the state highway. By the morning of Nov. 3, gas was available at the Exxon station at Schibanoff Lane and the BP station at Craig Road on the township’s border with Manalapan.
Gov. Chris Christie ordered an odd-even system of gas purchases to begin at noon Nov. 3. By Nov. 6, the gas lines were lessening and the fuel situation appeared to be returning to normal.
Freehold Raceway Mall reopened on Nov. 3. Many restaurants and businesses remained closed at the start of the weekend as they awaited the return of power.
Ammiano participated in an Oct. 31 conference call that included President Barack Obama, who said helping New Jersey was his first priority.
“He promised to lessen the red tape from the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” the mayor said.
In the wake of the storm, seven residents accepted an offer from township officials to seek shelter at locations outside the community.