Red Bank Prepares, Announces Select Evacuations for Impending Hurricane Irene

With Hurricane Irene expected to hit the New Jersey shore in just a matter of hours, Red Bank was preparing Saturday morning and early afternoon for the anticipated rain, heavy winds, and potential flooding that could occur along the Navesink River.

Throughout the borough’s downtown, businesses have covered their glass storefronts with either tape or, in some cases, plywood, in hopes of avoiding damage from Hurricane Irene’s winds, which could reach sustained speeds of more than 75 miles per hour when it hits Red Bank.

According to Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna, two senior-living complexes as well as at least one apartment complex have been evacuated. Chapin Hill Nursing Home on Chapin Avenue was undergoing a complete evacuation he posted on his Facebook page just after Noon. Wesleyan Arms Apartments on Wall Street were evacuated Friday night.

The apartments located at the end of Locust Avenue were also ordered evacuated because of their low-lying position, Menna posted.

Menna is using his Facebook page to post regular, official updates about Hurricane Irene. Click this link to visit Menna’s official Facebook page.

Both Pilgrim Baptist Church and United Methodist Church have opened their facilities up for emergency use to Red Bank's Office of Emergency Managment as a contigency, Menna said.