Township Officials Slam JCP&L on Poor Prep for Hurricane Irene

Mayor Jason J. Varano and Township Council members have nothing but praise for the JCP&L line workers who labored to restore power after

But the good will doesn't extend to JCP&L management.

"I'm very upset with ," Township Council Vice President Carmen F. Amato Jr. said at the Sept. 13 council meeting. "JCP&L knew the hurricane was coming. It was unconscionable for the amount of days power was out. My phone was ringing constantly."

Power outages were sporadic in many sections of Berkeley. But that was not the case in some of the senior villages and portions of Bayville, where power was lost for several days, Varano and other council members said.

Amato wrote to JCP&L President Donald Lynch shortly after the storm to ask that the company refund or issue a $150 credit to residents who lost power for more than 24 hours.

"That would go a long way in restoring your company's damaged reputation," Amato wrote in the letter. "Quite frankly, offering free water and ice were a nice gesture, but does not go far enough. JCP&L would really show they immensely care about its customer by offering a reimbursement or bill credit."

Residents in South Seaside Park, Pelican Island and most of the waterfront sections on the mainland were under a mandatory evacuation order.

They were urged to stay with families, friends, or head to a American Red Cross-staffed shelter at Toms River High School North. As Toms River North filled up, other Toms River schools were opened.

Eventually, St. Maximilian Kolbe R.C. Church off Mule Road — the only Berkeley facility with an emergency generator — was opened as a shelter. But there were no beds, just tables and chairs, Councilwoman Judy Noonan said.

"We have to have something for all residents, not just seniors," she said. "We need beds, not tables."

There is no facility with a generator in Bayville that could be used as a shelter. None of the Central Regional or Berkeley Township schools have generators.

Township officials and schools Superintendent Joseph H. Vicari have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds in the past, but were turned down, Varano said.

Berkeley is within the 10-mile radius of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township, he said.

"They feel that within any natural disaster, they don't want anyone within 10 miles of that power plant," Varano said.

A generator big enough to power a school would probably run around $100,000, the mayor said.

Amato and Varano said that Congressman Jon Runyan has pledged to support Berkeley's application for FEMA funds.

Irene did not live up to the predictions of forecasters, at least for Ocean County, the mayor said.

"Fortunately, the storm was not as bad as what could have happened," Varano said. "We didn't bear the brunt of it."

South Seaside Park, Pelican Island and some waterfront sections on the mainland were the hardest hit.

"In Pelican Island, the water was breaking at the foundation of homes," Varano said. "The biggest complaint in Pelican Island was the sightseers. They were pushing the water up into driveways."

The township is still assessing damage and police and employee overtime costs from the storm. The administration will apply for FEMA funds, he said.

"We do not have a number yet," Varano said.

Varano, Amato, Noonan and Council President Karen Davis praised new Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele and the rest of the township's emergency management team for their work during the storm.

"I commend her for her actions during the hurricane, especially in keeping the lines of communication open," Davis said.