Hurricane Irene: County Activating its Emergency Management System

With Hurricane Irene threatening to bear down on New Jersey on Sunday, the county has begun the activation of its Office of Emergency Management, which will be fully ready by Saturday at 6 p.m.

According to a statement released by the county on Friday, the hurricane is expected to hit late Saturday and last through Sunday, bringing major flooding, fallen trees and more wind damage.

“From emergency management, public works and law enforcement, to human services and communications, our county staff has put all the wheels in motion to ensure the safety of our residents during this unprecedented storm,” Somerset County Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski said in the release.

Residents are being encouraged to have disaster kits ready.

“This is not the time to be complacent,” Peter Palmer, freeholder and public health and safety liaison, said in the release. “We encourage all county residents to have on hand a disaster kit containing the necessities they will need in case of a long-term loss of electricity and other utilities, or if they are faced with the possibility of having to evacuate their homes.”

According to the statement, the kits should include a supply of bottled water, non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, a fire extinguisher, a change of clothes, first aid kit, bedding, prescription medication, sanitary needs, a standard AM/FM radio, flashlights, extra batteries and items for infants or those who are disabled.

According to Jessica Alfrey, development manager with the American Red Cross of Greater Somerset County, they are currently working with federal and local government organizations to gather supplies for possible shelters, and have police officers on hand to help out in the case of an evacuation.

But at this point, Alfrey said, they are not announcing any specific shelter sites.

“If we have to evacuate, we will tell residents where to go,” she said. “That’s up to the Office of Emergency Management to tell them.”

Alfrey said the Red Cross does not want to make a shelter location public, only to have it change at the last minute. So if an evacuation is necessary, she said, they will make shelter locations known.

For now, Alfrey said, it is important for residents to secure themselves safely in their homes.

“If you can shelter safely in your home, do that,” she said. “Have supplies on hand for three to five days, and listen to local radio stations."

For more information on disaster kit items, visit the county's health website.

For information about road closings, visit the emergency information site for the county.

And for constant county updates, follow both the Facebook and Twitter pages.