JCP&L, Jersey Shore communities prep for Tuesday storm expected to bring flooding, gusty winds
JCP&L called in 150 line crews, 600 line workers and 200 extra support staff ahead of the storm.
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Coastal sections of New Jersey are bracing for another round of heavy rain, coastal flooding, beach erosion and the potential for damaging wind gusts. It comes just a few weeks after the last storm in December left tens of thousands of people in the dark.
JCP&L called in 150 line crews, 600 line workers and 200 extra support staff from around the state and neighboring states to help get the lights turned back on in case Tuesday night’s storm delivers its full potential.
“You are not just talking about tree branches, you’re talking about whole trees coming down on lines, so the potential for damage does exist,” said Chris Hoenig, a spokesperson for JCP&L.
RELATED: Gov. Murphy declares state of emergency for NJ ahead of Tuesday night storm
MORE: News 12 New Jersey Weather Center
Crews began lowering the water levels of all three Asbury Park lakes to help prevent a repeat of what happened on Sept. 29, when heavy rainfall flooded parts of the downtown.
“They have a flume system, and they empty out into the ocean. One of our lakes empties into Deal Lake and we open up the gates to relieve the water from it,” said Asbury Park OEM coordinator Garrett Giberson.
The windy, wet December storm and now a solid snowpack up north from Saturday’s event create even more challenging conditions as ground soil remains saturated.
“We do have substations up north in flood-prone areas and when you take that snowpack and that heavy rain – we do have mitigation measures – flood walls, raising equipment, we are doing everything possible to protect that equipment,” added Hoenig.
The worst high tide is expected to come along the beaches at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Winds at the shore are forecast to gust higher than 60 mph during the height of the storm late Tuesday night.
