Barnegat Evacuations Under Way; Shelters Open

Evacuations in Barnegat are well under way as Hurricane Irene, now a Category 1 storm but still packing dangerous winds and bringing the threat of storm surge, .

Flooding has begun on Bayshore Drive at the public beach, police reported at 1:30 p.m.

Residents in the following areas are required to leave their homes as of 8 a.m. today:

• Pinewood Estate mobile home park on Route 72
• Brighton at Barnegat mobile home park on Route 72
• All areas east of Ridgeway Street on Bayshore Drive
• All areas east of Powell Street on East Bay Avenue

A shelter has been set up at the , 550 Barnegat Blvd. N., and is currently accepting any residents from Barnegat and Ocean Township. Water, food and cots are available. Residents seeking shelter with pets should go to the county shelter at Southern Regional High School on Route 9 in Stafford.

Those without access to vehicles are being transported by the Barnegat Police Department. Call the department's non-emergency number if you need a ride: 609-698-5000. For more information about sheltering in Barnegat, .

Shortly before 10:30 a.m., Lt. Pat Shaffery of the Barnegat Township Police Department said police had completed the evacuation of Pinewood Estates and were helping residents leave Brighton at Barnegat. Better than 90 percent of the residents from the two neighborhoods are out, he said, with the rest in the process of leaving. Police are driving through evacuation areas making announcements for residents to leave over their P.A. systems.

A strong police presence will remain in the evauated areas to protect residents' property, Shaffery said. 

As of mid-morning, 20 people were sheltering at the Brackman School, he said.

Shaffery said police are asking people to stay out of the evacuation are in the eastern part of the township. They have dispersed people from the beach and public dock and set up cones to deter additional onlookers, and will continue to monitor the area to keep people from congregating, he said.

A call center has been set up for those seeking information. Call the main township number, 609-698-0080, ext. 120, 174 or 190. Reserve 911 for emergencies only.

Barnegat Mayor Jeff Melchiondo issued the following statement via the township's Nixle alert system this morning:

Good morning to all of my fellow residents of Barnegat Township. 

As we all know, a historic weather event is about to embark upon New Jersey and our Township. Hurricane Irene will be directly over our area in less then 24 hours. This hurricane can be expected to be one of the most historic and dangerous storms to impact our area in many decades and it is imperative that everyone realizes that we need everyone to heed the mandatory evacuation orders and other initiatives directed by the Barnegat Township Police and our Office of Emergency Management. 

Barnegat Township is now under a “Declaration of Emergency”, as is the State of New Jersey. Mandatory evacuations begin this morning at 8 AM from Bayshore Drive and Ridgeway Street to the east and also from East Bay Avenue and Powell Lane to the east, as well. Additionally, both the Pinewood Estates and Brighton of Barnegat Mobile Home Parks are under mandatory evacuation on Route 72. Barnegat and the Red Cross, has established a regional shelter at the Russell O. Brackman School on Barnegat Boulevard, which will be opened at 8 AM this morning. Anyone that does not have transportation to the shelter can call the Barnegat Police Department at 698-5000 for assistance. Please reserve all 911 calls to life threatening situations or extreme emergencies only. 

All essential emergency services and departments of the Township have been mobilized for the duration of the hurricane, but will not be able to respond during the height of the event, so please, take the appropriate action, NOW! Secure your homes and personal assets and get out of harms way. This is not a storm you will want to take lightly. All non-essential vehicles are not to be on the roadways during the event. 

Please take care and extreme caution this weekend and Godspeed. 

Mayor Jeff Melchiondo

Check back with Barnegat Patch as the day goes on for the latest updates on the storm and the preparations here in town.