Cleanup is underway in parts
of Monmouth County, including in
Neptune City, after severe weather rolled
through the area and left extensive damage behind.
The storms hit the area Sunday just before 8 p.m.
A large part of the roof of the Neptune Motor Lodge was blown off,
and cars were damaged by flying debris. On New York Avenue, the
entire area was just littered with debris Sunday night from the roof, from
other parts of the building. Cars and vehicles had windows blown out.
Viraj Ajmera, of the Neptune Motor Lodge, said it was
"terrifying" experience. He said he saw sparks flying and yelled at
relatives to stay sheltered in place.
“Everything
started shaking and it was just, it was terrifying because you
know, I didn't know what to do,” says Viraj. “Everything
was shaking. I saw a light, first thing out outside, and you know I just I just
called my little sister and we took shelter in the bathroom.”
He said he saw objects being tossed around the parking lot and
described the damage as "something out of a movie."
His sister, Riya Ajmera, said she saw lights flickering inside the
lodge, a light pole go down and flashing as the building started shaking.
“It was
pretty loud,” says Riya.
“It was a lot, you could just see everything
falling, no idea what was going on. That was a terrifying part of it. While
everything was going on, I was just in panic getting safe and letting making
sure my brother was safe and my parents.”
Both Viraj and Riya Ajmera said the lodge's customers are OK.
There were 11 people inside the hotel, but the back of building is damaged. One minor injury was reported when debris from the hotel blew
several hundred yards onto Route 35.
An official for Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management
said boats from the Shark River nearby were tossed around. He said one minor
injury was also reported.
The National Weather Service says the damage was caused by straight-line winds.