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Ewing, NJ 08628
Be Ready | Be Prepared
June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season in the Atlantic and Ewing Township encourages all residents to update their readiness and be prepared with this reminder. Last week we wrote about two backyard pests that pose threats to our comfort and health: mosquitoes and ticks. This week we urge everyone to enjoy the season, but to be prepared for one of the summer’s biggest threats, hurricanes.
The first step to your emergency preparedness is to sign up for alerts and warnings published by the Township and other agencies to stay abreast of emergencies happening locally. Ewing Township publishes warnings via the Rave Mobile Alerts Notification System, also known as the “Mayor’s Messages.” Sign up now to ensure that you receive these critical Ewing-centric notifications as they are published.
The RAVE Mobile Alerts Community Notification System will keep you up to date about both emergency and non-emergency situations. Receive a phone call, email or text about floods, fires, water emergencies, road closures, missing persons, evacuation orders, and weather emergencies. Non-emergency notifications may include Township information such as event and program reminders, service information, and other general communications. You may customize your alerts by opting-in or opting-out of some types of notifications.
If a family member has medical disabilities and will need special assistance during an emergency, we encourage them to sign up for the Ewing Fire Companies database of addresses/individuals that need special assistance evacuating. Fill out their Emergency Information Request form and send it to them to be included in their database and ensure that they are especially prepared to help you in the event of an emergency. (This information is not publicly shared.)
If the events of the last number of years have taught us anything, it’s that Climate Change is having unexpected impacts and that we need to be prepared for stronger, more erratic weather events. Because sea surface temperatures are expected to increase as a result of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, future projected scenarios show a potential for hurricanes to become more intense as they move towards the east coast of the United States.” [1]
Planning and preparation can make all the difference to your safety and recovery during times of perilous weather. Plan now so that you will know what to do in the event of a hurricane.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently updated their forecast for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1st to November 30th and predicted a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA is forecasting anywhere from 12 to 17 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). And of those, 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has 70% confidence in these ranges. However, prediction of a near-normal season does not let us off the hook in terms of the potential for one of those major hurricanes to seriously impact our area.
The ideal time to prepare for a hurricane is when there is no hurricane… PREPARE
When a hurricane is on its way…. SURVIVE
When the hurricane is here… SURVIVE
Afterwards… BE SAFE
Again, also listen to local authorities for information and special instructions. The hurricane may be over, but that doesn’t mean the danger is.
Each year, we witness the devastating impacts that hurricanes can cause. Hurricanes are not just a threat to coastal communities. High winds, heavy rainfall, tornadoes, and flooding can be felt hundreds of miles inland, potentially causing loss of life and catastrophic damage to property. As Tropical Storm Ida reminded us, it is not just major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) that we need to worry about, but all hurricanes/tropical storms can cause significant damage. We encourage you to prepare now for your safety during the 2023 Hurricane season.
For more information go to ready.gov.
[1] [1] https://www.nj.gov/dep/climatechange/docs/nj-scientific-report-2020.pdf#page=56