Full Notification

Readington Township Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the progress of Hurricane Irene, in coordination with the Hunterdon County Division of Emergency Management, The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and National Weather Service. Yesterday Readington Township Officials participated in conference calls with the State OEM, all other County OEMs and the National Weather Service. The NWS stressed the severity of the storm, indicating it as a “100 year event” and advising all rivers in the state are susceptible to MAJOR or RECORD flooding. Excessive rainfall and high winds were also discussed.

Hurricane Irene will very likely be a threat to our forecast area starting Saturday night, August 27th into Sunday August 28th. Given how much recent rainfall we have experienced as well as what is expected, major flooding is very likely. Hurricane force winds are likely to be experienced along the NJ and DE coast, along with severe coastal flooding. If the maximum storm surge occurs during the time of high tide, record coastal flooding is possible. Since we’re getting closer to the event, average hurricane track errors are decreasing, and at this point in time, are less than 125 miles. Average track errors will continue to decrease, as we get closer to the storm event. There is a high risk of this being a very damaging, life threatening event.

Average track errors are decreasing as we get closer to the event. This means we are losing the opportunity for the storm to miss our region by shifting further out to sea or well inland. It is increasingly likely our region will feel the direct impacts of Hurricane Irene.

Hurricane Irene is a larger than average hurricane, and that is expected to continue. This means a broad area will be affected by wind and rain from the hurricane

Catastrophic inland flooding from very heavy rainfall is now a distinct possibility. Record coastal flooding due to storm surge is now a distinct possibility along the New Jersey and Delaware Atlantic coastlines.

Showers and thunderstorms may break out Saturday in advance of the hurricane. Friday is likely your best day for completing any outside preparedness activities prior to hurricane arrival.
For information on what you can do to be prepared for not only this event but any emergency go to http://www.ready.nj.gov/plan/kit-plan.html