Berkeley Reeling From Hurricane Sandy’s Aftermath

Township officials and emergency management personnel were trying to deal with the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Sandy Tuesday.

But they are hampered by a lack of communication and power at the police station on Pinewald-Keswick Road, Mayor Carmen Amato said.

“It’s the worst storm I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s had such a devastating impact to our community. It’s going to take months,” he said.

“I’ve already contacted the governor [and said] that we are in dire straits and we need some help.”

The Glen Cove section of Berkeley was under 8 feet of water at one point.

“We took a family out of an attic in Glen Cove,” Amato said.

Township Council President James J. Byrnes – who lives in the Glen Cove section – lost his home in the storm.

Both South Seaside Park and Pelican Island were underwater.

In South Seaside Park, the ocean met the bay.

“It gotten so bad, we had to pull our own police officers out of there for their own safety,” Amato said.

Amato asked residents to stay indoors and off the roads so Jersey Central Power and Light crews could clear downed wires and trees, repair poles and restore service.

Firefighters spent part of last night fighting a blaze at the Beachwood Shopping Center. The fire was fully extinguished around 2:30 p.m.