Mayor Hopeful South Seaside Park Residents Might Be Home By Christmas
Restoration of electric, natural gas service moving along
South Seaside Park residents, here pausing to talk during a trip to their homes two weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit, could be able to return to their homes by Christmas, if all goes smoothly, Mayor Carmen Amato said Tuesday night.
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Residents of South Seaside Park might be able to return to their homes by Christmas if everything goes smoothly, Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato told the Township Council on Tuesday night.
Work to restore utility service to the South Seaside Park section of the barrier island -- among the least damaged parts of the peninsula that runs from Island Beach State Park all the way north to Point Pleasant Beach -- has been moving quickly.
Of the 800 meters that were removed from homes in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, half of them have been ordered to be reinstalled, after inspections were completed ensuring the safety of re-energizing those homes, Amato said.
The remainder of the meters that were removed are expected to be reinstalled by the end of this week, Amato said, which then will allow JCP&L to restore power to that area.
New Jersey Natural Gas has said that work to repair the main pipe that was exposed and seriously damaged when Sandy opened an inlet in Mantoloking is about 65 percent complete, Amato said. Work to examine the pipes carrying natural gas from the main to homes is moving along as well, he said, with NJNG capping lines where homes are so damaged or missing that they are unlikely to be restored.
The gas company said gas service could be restored by the end of December, Amato said, and the mayor hoped it could be done sooner.
Once electricity and gas service are able to be restored, the township will ask Gov. Chris Christie to lift the mandatory evacuation order for South Seaside Park so those residents are able to return to their homes.
"We hope it will be an early Christmas present for those families," Amato said.
Booradley
10:00 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The mayor and township employees have been active in aiming to get things up and running as much as possible. This is not an easy task as some folks had little damage while many others lost their homes entirely. Let's aim to get people back into homes and to help those who have no home to go to.
Chief Wahoo
10:12 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Amato you better start planning on much lower property taxes coming from SSP
SuzieN
11:08 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
I'm confused about the definition of South Seaside Park. I am renting in the north end, near L Street. Is this area included in all of the news about South Seaside Park? I realize that the southern part of SSP got hit harder than the northern part, but I only see articles about South SSP. Can anyone clear this up?
john
11:23 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
hats off to the berkeley mayor and berkeley township workers..... every one working so hard to clean this mess up.....
gonna be diasterous thou to the property tax bills no doubt.......
JMA
1:54 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
To Suzie N, South Seaside Park is part of the awesomest ever, Berkeley Township. Seaside Park is the Borough of Seaside Park, different town alltogether, different police, and thank goodness, different taxes.
Ann & Jack Clarkin
10:26 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
A&J......I couldn't have said it any better...yeah SOUTH Seaside Park.....What a great Christmas present it would be...
Rich Worth
2:52 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
To susie n SP ends At 14 the street were SSP begins and ends at 24 the street the beginning of island beach state park does this clear up the confusion
Diane Maiorano
3:19 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Is there any estimate of when the utilities will be restored and permanent residents will be able to return to Pelican Island?
N. Jon I. Twist
8:38 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
We hear about Natural Gas and Electricity, what about Telephone and Water?
John Anderson
11:16 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Electric is back on in most of South Seaside and Seaside Park unless you had your meter removed by JCP&L then you need to have it inspected and re-installed. Telephone and Cable/ Internet is up and running from what I hear. You may have to call your provider to have them reactive it.
Water is running however there has been NO update on if it safe to drink as of yet.
Erin Foster
2:06 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Anyone hear anything about when Seaside Heights residents might be able to move back?