Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Point Boro Mayor Says Shelter Will Stay Open at Least 3 More Days

Water still 8 feet high in many sections south of Bridge Avenue

 

Point Borough High School will continue to use the gym as a shelter for at least the next three days and will also begin to use the school cafeteria tonight, said Borough Mayor William Schroeder early Tuesday afternoon.

Ocean County services are providing food for those in the shelter, as the town continues to try to deal with massive flooding, he said. There is still eight feet of water in many sections south of Bridge Avenue.

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Since the high school continues to provide shelter space, it appears all Borough public schools will be closed for the rest of the week, although Patch could not immediately reach any school district officials to confirm that.

Two Point Borough residents are reporting that motorists should not try to travel on Bridge Avenue in front of Stop & Shop which is blocked off due to flooding there on Bridge and in that shopping plaza. Also, traffic lights are not working in the Borough, so traveling after sunset will be dangerous, residents say.

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Residents and property owners in Point Borough and Point Beach should stay out of town due to severe flooding and damage by Sandy.

And anyone home in both towns should stay indoors as emergency workers work hard trying to rescue stranded residents and clear roadways of downed trees. There are also multiple reports of live wires hanging.

In Point Borough, Schroeder said at 10:30 a.m. that hundreds are in shelters, rescue boats manned by state police and National Guard are rescuing people and there is eight feet of water in Bay Head Shores and along creeks.

On Facebook, Schroeder said: "Yes it's a disaster. Flooding everywhere. Bay Head Shores, Beaver Dam Creek, trees down, power off."

In another post, he said he has alerted JCP&L to the number of live wires down and widespread power outages.

He added: "Substations blew up, transformers blew too. National Guard and state police rescue boats everywhere."

Patch has had difficulty reaching police and fire officials in both towns due to electrical, phone and cell service problems, as well as emergency responders deluged with emergency calls from people stranded and trees and wires down. Patch will continue trying to reach emergency officials.

If you are in Point Borough and Point Beach and can see or hear signs of Sandy's damage first hand, while still staying safe, please email information and photos, if you have them, to denise.distephan@patch.com. Thank you.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.