Looking Ahead to the Next Storm

When it first came time to evacuate before Hurricane Irene arrived, there was no place to go in Berkeley Township.

Residents were told to head to Toms River High School North or stay with family and friends. When Toms River North filled up, Toms River emergency management officials opened up other Toms River schools.

In the end, the only place in town Berkeley residents had as a place of refuge was St. Maximilian Kolbe R.C. Church off Mule Road. It's the only facility in Berkeley Township with a back-up generator that could be used as a public shelter.

None of the schools in the Berkeley or Central Regional school districts are equipped with back-up generators.

Mayor Jason J. Varano and Township Council Vice President Carmen F. Amato Jr. want to change that.

"It's inexcusable that our town doesn't have the emergency generators necessary to house our own residents within the borders of our own township in the event of a natural disaster like Hurricane Irene," Amato said.

Amato said he had contacted Congressman Jon Runyan for help in obtaining federal funding for the generators and support for the township's application for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for storm damage.

"Berkeley Township is 42 square miles and home to 42,000 residents, with miles of waterfront," Amato said. '"Given our size and proximity to water, it's imperative that we can provide a local, familiar place for our residents in the event this happens again. That's why I spoke to Congressman Runyan personally and requested his assistance."

The township needs at least two central locations for storm shelters —one in Bayville and one in the senior communities, Varano said this morning.

"In all the senior communities, not one of them has a generator," he said.

Generators can run up to $100,000 a piece, depending on the size purchased, the mayor said.

"In the future we will apply for funds to try and buy generators," said Varano, who has been mayor for 12 years and is running for a fourth term against Amato. "If we don't receive them, we'll have to do some budgeting in the future."

Varano said this morning it will take about a month to assess the storm damage and tote up overtime costs for the police and public works departments.

If FEMA approves the township's application, Berkeley will be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of storm-related costs.

He praised the township's Emergency Management Office and new Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele, who also serves as emergency management coordinator.

"OEM did a tremendous job," he said. "She showed a lot of leadership. It was a long four days, pretty much around the clock."

Both Amato and Varano also praised the fire departments, first aid and volunteers for their efforts during the storm.