Emergency Generator Badly Needed For Power Outages, Township Officials Say

Township officials are looking into purchasing a portable emergency generator that could be used in several areas in case of power outages.

"We really need to move forward on this," Township Council President James J. Byrnes said at the Sept. 25 council meeting.

The township currently has no shelters that can be used during prolonged power outages or natural disasters.

When Hurricane Irene hit in August 2011, Berkeley waterfront residents under mandatory evacuation orders had no place to go in town and were advised to head for shelters in Toms River. A temporary shelter was later set up at St. Maximilian Kolbe R.C. Church, but there were no beds or kitchen facilities.

Byrnes has met with Central Regional Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides and Berkeley schools Superintendent James D. Roselli to discuss using the generator at the high school and Berkeley Township Elementary School.

Other areas the generator could be used include the Berkeley Township Recreation Center on Route 9 and one of the clubhouses in Holiday City, he said.

Byrnes said Congressman Jon Runyan had suggested the township look into obtaining a surplus generator from the federal government.