Re-Entry Plan Allows Residents to Drive into Seasides, Pelican Island, South Seaside Park
Rules must be strictly followed, officials warn
Residents of Seaside Park board buses on Sunday. On Monday they will be allowed to drive to their homes.
Photos (2)
Photos
Residents who have been clamoring for the right to drive onto the barrier island to do more than retrieve a few belongings will finally get that opportunity beginning Monday.
Residents of Pelican Island, South Seaside Park, Seaside Park and Seaside Heights all have been granted permission to drive into those areas, officials announced, beginning at 8 a.m. They will have until 3 p.m. to work at their homes, winterizing, removing belongings and working on damage within their homes.
All civilians must be off the island by 3 p.m., officials say. The program will continue daily as long as there are no problems, they said.
There will be checkpoints and every person attempting to enter will need identification proving residency, officials said.
Rules for each town differ slightly, primarily regarding registration, according to information posted on the towns' websites and Facebook pages. The common points, however, are that residents entering the island must stay in the right lane of the Mathis Bridge, which reopened to traffic over the weekend. There will be police officers directing traffic to specific towns.
It was also noted that people attempting to stray into other areas -- especially Ortley Beach -- will be subject to arrest.
Contractors and insurance adjusters may accompany homeowners and/or residents, officials said.
Mayor William Akers of Seaside Heights said in his note to residents, "I must stress that if we do not get massive cooperation, this plan will be ended as soon as it was started."
Town-by-town specifics:
Seaside Heights: Akers said there is a temporary speed limit in town of 5 miles per hour and drivers should consider every intersection a four-way stop. "There are no traffic signals operating and many of the street signs are missing or mis-directed," he said. "Again, please show respect and consideration while in town so that this program can continue and everyone can start the re-building process."
Seaside Park: According to the borough's website, upon entry into the borough residents will be directed to a registration point. A r-entry sticker will be provided to approved residents and homeowners and vehicles displaying a re-entry sticker will be granted access into Seaside Park only. They will have unrestricted access to Seaside Park between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Vehicles having a re-entry sticker must accompany and escort any contractor, plumber or inspector/adjuster personally.
South Seaside Park: Residents must have identification and proof of residency available to avoid traffic delays. As you cross the bridge stay in the right lane past the Dock Outfitters, until a police officer approaches to check your information. At 14th Avenue/Central Boulevard you will reach a second checkpoint, where you will receive a registration form that you must complete prior to leaving the island. It must be returned to the command post at Central Boulevard/24th Avenue, in front of Island Beach State Park, at which time you will receive a permit sticker for future returns.
If you wish to have a contractor or insurance adjuster come in, you must include their information n the registration form. If you do not have the information when you first receive the form, you will be permitted to take an additional registration form to complete at a later date. This needs to be handed in to a Berkeley Township officer, faxed to 732-341-3405, or delivered to Berkeley Township Headquarters 631 Pinewald Keswick Rd Bayville, NJ 08721.
Only residence vehicles, no contractors, will be given the permit stickers to have regular access to the island.
Pelican Island: Residents who live on the south side will cross the bridge in the right lane and turn right onto Catalina/Route 37. You will be checked by a Berkeley Township officer at this point. You are to be completely off Route 37 so as to not cause a traffic issue. Again, have your credentials ready. When you exit Pelican Island, you need to go to the Berkeley Township Command Post, at the corner of Central Boulevard and 24th Avenue, in front of Island Beach State Park, to fill out the registration paperwork and receive your sticker for future visits. The traffic light at Route 37/Catalina is not functioning and no left-hand turns will be permitted from Pelican Island.
Berkeley Township residents who live on the north side of Pelican Island should follow the directions for South Seaside Park residents.
Permit stickers must be affixed to your windshield.
Toms River residents of Pelican Island must have your proof of residency ready so it will not cause a traffic issue on the highway.
Berkeley residents also can obtain sticker permits and registration forms from the Records Bureau of the Berkeley Township Police Department, 631 Pinewald-Keswick Road - Bayville, NJ 08721, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Chief Wahoo
8:44 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
way too many rules.....no way this will go smoothly.....no way
plus you do not have to show anyone papers....this is not Nazi Germany
Chief Wahoo
8:47 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
like i said before i rudely got deleted
its impossible to drive 5MPH !!! ......guess the public 'servants' need the revenue
Karen Wall
8:56 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Chief, I deleted the comment by accident. I was trying to reply.
Anyone incapable of driving 5 mph should not be driving. There is a difference between being unwilling to do so and incapable of doing so.
Chief Wahoo
8:58 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
no problem karen.....but watch out for those bicycles flying by your automobile
Karen Wall
9:06 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I'll take that chance.
Looting is a very real concern for the residents over there. I was granted access today and saw police intercepting people who tried to gain access by boat. If I lived over there, I would want to know that police were doing everything possible to keep people out who have no business being there.
matthew
8:52 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Here is mayors Kelaher's email adress TKelaher@tomsrivertownship.com. Start pounding him with emails why and when is Ortley Beach getting in. With the warm days the mold is spreading faster and we need to do something before we all lose our homes. And where is his support, I haven't seen or heard from him once since Sandy hit us. I have a feeling he doesn't care about Ortley Beach, just cares about our tax dollars. Something has to happen now, it will be 2 weeks and still no word on Ortley Beach. FREE ORTLEY BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chuck Lada
8:53 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Chief, At this point I'll take it. I went into SSH Saturday on the bus and I am elated that our government heard our complaints and reacted. Admitidly they still have restrictions but at this time we don't need every wahoo (pun intended) driving over to take photos to post on facebook. Thank You Mayor Akers and everyone else who fought to get us access with our vehicles.
Chief Wahoo
8:56 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
of course you will take it Chuck.....thats why the boil frogs slowly....if they raise the heat too fast, the frog will jump out of the pot......enjoy the warm water
EL
8:54 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
This is for safety & security. There is no power so everyone who enters, must also leave. Officials do not want people roamng or looting. It is for everyone's protection right now. Have some consideration & common sense before you criticize.
Chief Wahoo
8:57 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
its amazing you people just dont get it ..................SAD :(
John
9:44 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Cheif Wackoo.....we do get it! It's apparent that you have not lost anything on the island. NOW YOU SHOULD GET IT AND GET LOST!
Chuck Lada
9:09 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Chief, While I am grateful to get acess, I WILL NEVER FORGET that it took 13 days. 3 to 4 days was reasonable, beyond that was a blatant abuse of emergency powers and a shameful disregard for residents constitutional rights for liberty and property access. That is why I was at the Holiday Inn Monday and the SSH council meeting Wednesday calling the claims of dangerous sinkholes in the roads lies. I made it onto the Chanel 4 NBC 11:00 news.
We must never forget what happened here and we must hold the politicians accountable so that they don't ever do this again.
PJ Ortley
9:14 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I live(d) permanently in Ortley Beach. Yes, we need to get in NOyW. And my anger will boil over if people from other towns sneak in to loot my place before I get there. Everyone on the barrier islands should have to show proof of residency to get in every time and then be required to wear picture IDs at all times. The system is easy to establish.
Barnegat Ray
9:18 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I agree...I think I would be a better looter deterrant, sleeping in my own home, than random patrols...All I need is a generator, portapotty, and butane stove...we all know where the looters are walking in from...
Barnegat Ray
9:14 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Gov't makes everything more complicated than it has to be...but look on the bright side...us residents will have the island to ourselves...
Sandra
3:45 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Only comment that made me find laughter. True words, not even Bennies will visit. All alone quiet surrounded by mold.
Chief Wahoo
9:36 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Showing papers on Veterans Day
someone smarter than me please explain to the sheep
Patrick Sages
9:42 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
As a life long Ortley owner I am appalled by the treatment of the Mayor and township officials. First they tax us to the max, and now they prevent us from getting to our homes to save them from further disrepair. The damage to our homes is worsneing daily, as the mold grows with the warmer weather. They say the roads are in disrepair yet the videos on Utube prove otherwise. Sandy was the first tragedy, and the township/mayor's treatment/apathy toward the Ortley homeowners is the 2nd tragedy. By the way, where has the mayor been? Why isn't he at the bridge checkpoint or another location offering guidance for the Ortley residents. I guess we just don't have enough voters. We will not forget and more tax appeals will be forthcoming!!
John
10:06 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Patrick, In the past certain streets in Ortley Beach were allowed to succeed from Ortley Beach/Toms River Twp to become part of Lavallette. This resulted after Toms River Twp Neglected these home owners after a snow storm and where stranded. These home owners were able to show cause. I certainly believe we all have enough cause to show we have been forsaken by our Government.
Paula Belotta
6:00 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Couldn't agree more....i will personally lead a call to vote out each and every one of them!
Michael reina
9:47 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I love how people been in on dam buses bicycles boats and friggn walked and now they get to use there own cars.....for those people god bless and i hope yous can restore your lives that much faster......BUT WHAT ABOUT ORTLEY THAT HAS NOT BEEN THERE AT ALL??????? ENOUGH ALREADY OF YOUS DONT DO SOMTHEN SOON YOUR GONNA LOOSE ANY BIT OF CONTROL THERE IS AND THEN WHAT ??????? Ya gonna lock the people up ??????
Patrick Sages
9:53 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
As a life long Ortley owner I am appalled by the treatment of the Mayor and township officials. First they tax us to the max, and now they prevent us from getting to our homes to save them from further disrepair. The damage to our homes is worsneing daily, as the mold grows with the warmer weather. They say the roads are in disrepair yet the videos on Utube prove otherwise. Sandy was the first tragedy, and the township/mayor's treatment/apathy toward the Ortley homeowners is the 2nd tragedy. By the way, where has the mayor been? Why isn't he at the bridge checkpoint or another location offering guidance for the Ortley residents. I guess we just don't have enough voters. We will not forget and more tax appeals will be forthcoming!!
Chief Wahoo
9:59 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Stop crying about Ortley, no one cares about you now rhat We can drive 5mph and show my papers to some clowns with a badge. Land of the free and home of the brave.
Tired of Idiots
11:40 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Is anyone else tired of the almighty chief wahoo rhetoric? Obviously a man with a hatred of government, police and anything that may stand in the way of his god given right to be an ass. Luckily he chooses to live in a country where he has freedom of speech so he can continue to ramble and spew his hatred. My bet is he is one of those full time residents of the barrier island who continues to cry over non-existant problems that are so minor that normal people wouldnt even give a second thought. His description of those "clowns with badges" shows his feelings and obviously he had a career that was so important that it must have retired with him because he is the almighty, all knowing and never wrong pompous ass that he is. I say retired because he appears to spend all his time here posting his ignorant comments. I for one am just tired of the whining and wish him nothing short of a long life somewhere else.
Mattie
10:07 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Tired of the Idiots-
Yes, I'm also very tired of reading comments from negative, angry, paranoid Teabaggers and Haters-of-All-Things 'government'... while at the same time they are so quick to label others "unpatriotic" "socialists" "Communists" etc.
And I mean I'm sick of them not only in these hurricane aftermath articles, but in EVERY single article or blog about every topic imaginable on every Patch from every town. It's disgraceful. Disgraceful - and depressing - to know that we are surrounded with so many creepy, heartless, mean-spirited people who hate everything constantly.
Chris Teresi
11:05 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Based on the information we have been give, Ortley beach is going to be delt with last, opposed to all the other towns,it would be an honiced statement. think it's unforunate,but true. Somebody has to be last.
But that doesn't mean we as a town have to accept that. Just have to speak to the right people to get the right action!
suz
11:42 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Hey Ortley residents....go onto Ortley Beach. Info on there helpful.
suz
11:43 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Oops...I meant Google Ortley Beach.Org.
Flygrl
12:01 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
@Tired of Idiots...glad someone said something! Totally agree!
John
12:07 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Hey Suz and other OB residents, I would suggest that you go to the Toms River Twp website. It is the source for the most accurate information; unlike some association websites that may not represent the community as a whole. The Toms River Website allows you to register your e-mail address for updates and the reverse 911 in order to be notified when access is available. Good luck!
TRWatch
1:14 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
I took 7 items out of our house in Ortley before I left the Saturday before Sandy, guitars and guns, I'll head home with some of them.
Jerzymom
1:34 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
I'm very sorry Ortley owners or renters but you got the worst hit! Are they not telling you all the homes that blew up from the gas. It's a war zone over there. For your safety they have to get all that cleaned up. From pics I see my heart goes out to you. I'm a long time beach goer of the surf club and I'm told it's gone. I hope they really do have therapist in their to speak to and any child that may return to see there home gone. Again Ortley is where all the gas lines got compromised. This is what blew up the homes and all the fires..God Bless when you return
BAYBREEZE
5:44 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE COMPLAINING...PLEASE STOP ! I WAS IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS ON SATURDAY..... YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION. THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. THIS IS A BAD SCENE. YOUR HOME IS NOT AS YOU LEFT IT. WATER AND TIDAL SURGE AND SEWERAGE HAVE SEVERLY COMPROMISED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF 98% OF ALL THE HOUSES, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. HAVE PATIENTS IN GETTING BACK BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO...YOUR HEART WILL BREAK....NOT MUCH YOU WIL BE ABLE TO DO....ORTLEY IS DEVASTATED....ALL MY FAMILYS BELONGS WERE DRAGGED OUT TO THE STREET SOAKING WET AND MOLDEY. THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE AND ONLY SANDY IS TO BLAME..GOOD LUCK WHEN YOU FINALLY GET BACK IN AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL !!
Bellanessa
8:16 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
I am not trying to be lame here at all...but if no one can over to the islands, where are the looters coming from? how are they getting over? or is more of a concern that people who live there are looting other people's homes when they are supposedly cleaning up their own?
I am so sorry for those of you whose lives have been upended by this...keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Karen Wall
5:33 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Bella, they are trying to get in any way possible -- by boat even.
barbara
9:06 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
My husband and parents on their way now, he just called and said it took over an hr. to get across bridge, many cars.
barbara
9:09 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Karen, no one else can answer me this question, maybe you can find out and email me at campergirl307@comcast.net. Our in laws parked their car at a&p parking lot before sandy hit. Called towing co and they said can only tow from driveways and cant do a&p cause it is ortley, he told me he thinks all cars parked there were taken away by guards and i should call t.r. pd i called and the "dont" know, posted on police blotter and they "dont" know but wished me luck. seriously. just trying to find out if car is there. thanks
Sandra
3:42 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
There is no way that utilites will be able to make full approval and people should grab what they can. It could be months and months and probably will be.
cade
5:20 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
I think we all understand that much of ortley was hit bad and my heart goes out to everyone everywhere that's lost so much...but not all of ortley is a battleground...I have a friend working in the area check my families house and aside from 2 broken windows and wet hardwood floors there was little to no damage...this was on Thursday...I was also told that most of the blocks between washington and rt 35 for the most part appeared similar...I've also seem my house on youtube videos people have taken...many...Although not all areas towards the center of the island are in fact in tact and passable...they have to drive right by to go to lavalette...they need to start letting us in too even if it is little by little...otherwise the houses and lives that weren't shattered will be as well...before we know it the whole town will be condemned and demolished at this rate...I'd rather be able to walk over the bridge with a wagon of tools and supplies if we can't drive than be told we'll be arrested if we go near our own homes
Sandra
8:57 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
What happens to people who were renting homes there? Do they have the same rights as the owners to see the property? How is Blaine Ave? anyone know?
Mattie
9:47 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Sandra, I don't know if this helps, but my daughter and son-in-law were renting in Pt. Pleasant Bch and they evacuated pre-storm, but the house they were renting 3 blocks from the oceanfront was badly flooded. They have been back to the house several times (once they were allowed in PPB) and all they needed to show was a current drivers license with the address on it. Soit seems renters have the same rights to go back and salvage whatever they can....
And the house they were renting- condemned. Their landlord is unsure about rebuilding there again. In the meantime, I have my daughter, son-in-law and a HUGE dog living with us (in a small 2-bed retirement home) for the next 6-8 months. It's tight, it's tough, but we do what we gotta do, right? :-)
Sandra
11:17 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Gee Mattie, you have a heart of gold. I am so glad they had someone who would let them come in with their dog. God Bless
TRWatch
12:10 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Well, here you go. We can finally go home, but the township wants us to show up at 8:00 to register...amazing.
http://tomsrivertownship.com/
jerseyshoregirl4
12:19 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
@ Sandra . . . I was there today, Unfortunately, if yours is a first floor on Blaine . . . there's a very good chance you will be walking into dirty water marks 3 - 4 feet high on the walls. Floors and all belongings will be filled with water and sand mixed with raw sewerage (from the sewer system backing up in most everyone's homes, mixing with flood waters). Everything you own below 4 feet can not be salvaged. Things in the bedrooms were in the kitchen, things from the bathroom were found under beds. etc . . Nothing anyone can tell you, and no picture you've seen, will be descriptive enough to fully prepare people to what they are walking into. The Seaside Heights we all know, is unrecognizable. Best of luck and God bless.
Sandra
1:35 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thank you JerseyShoreGirl4. Sounds like mold is going to grab anything left standing. Don't need or want that. Anyone else having sleep issues? Nightmares? :(
barbara
6:31 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
yes mattie, gotta do what you gotta do. i had 3 families livinging with me also 4 cats. one family rented home next door to me, my neighbor snow bird. so gracious of her now my elderly in laws who lost all in ss hts. next door to me for now. still have 2 families here, looking for a place, but hard. bless you to.
Mattie
9:40 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Yes, my daughter and son in law are not the only friends and family members who have lost everything- A sister-in-law and brother-in-law evacuated out of Silverton the day before the storm, and went back afterward to see their house (they lived in that house for 28 yrs; 3 blocks back from the nearest lagoon - without it EVER flooding), had 4 ft of water inside the house at the height of the storm surge.
House; condemned. They could only get one of their two cars out, the car left behind; flooded and totaled. So their family- two parents, two college-age kids, and a dog had to move in with her mother in Bricktown. They are so traumatized, they do not want to rebuild in Silverton. I don't blame them.... It's very sad for soooo many people. It really is.
That's why it really pisses me off to see the same few selfish and self-absorbed jerks here on Patch complaining and screaming about being treated so 'unfairly' and how incompetent the government /FEMA is - all because they can't do what they want when they want to....
Sandra
1:38 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Why bother letting us all back anyway? What's the point? Idon't blame FEMA or the townships. I just hope they hang out for a while before another problem happens elsewhere in the country and we are an afterthought of importance.
Barnegat Ray
3:13 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Ortley Info Here:
http://tomsrivertownship.com/
Frank Kwatonowski
7:44 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
If we missed a re-entry date will we get another chance . In am interested in Chadwick Beach Island.
barbara
10:35 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
wth happened to cars parked in a&p lot? cant find any answeres pd dont know mayor dont know. heard rumor guards removed all cars from there. can some one help?
meimei
1:33 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Some tribes in Sudan and Senegal http://www.coachoutletonlinexc.net/ Coach Factory Outlet have an average height of 6-foot-6, which also happens to be the size of the average NBA player. People in Nigeria, http://www.louisvuittonoutletam.net/ Louis Vuitton Purses Mali and Congo tend to be very big and physical. We need to build a strategy to go into these regions http://www.coachoutletstoreze.com/ Coach Factory Outlet and cultivate the talent through infrastructure and instruction.Not long ago, soccer in Africa was almost http://www.guccibeltsoutletds.net/ Gucci Belts the same way. It was untapped.Kids in Africa start kicking a ball when they are six or seven years old, if not younger. http://www.coachfactoryonlinefn.net/ Coach Factory Outlet It's like baseball, basketball and football in America. If you're talented, people will find you. That's what http://www.coachfactoryonlineae.com/ Coach Factory Outlet happened with soccer. The number of academies has grown rapidly, and people are really into it. As a http://www.coachoutletb1.com/ Coach Factory Online result, nearly every major soccer team has a lot of African players.Through my experience as a Nigerian player, http://www.coachoutlethcs.com/ Coach Outlet Online coach and now NBA executive, I believe basketball can follow a similar path. It starts with building facilities. We need http://www.coachoutletonlinegc.com/ Coach Outlet Online to start investing in outdoor courts and indoor gyms for kids to play.