Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer BRICK TOWNSHIP - Ask Patrolman John Lesemann how he thinks the Jersey Shore will fare during this summer's hurricane season, and he answers without speaking. He crosses his fingers. But Lesemann, the township's deputy emergency management coordinator, wants residents to know a comprehensive evacuation plan is in place year-round if the need arises, either from a natural or man-made disaster. "More than likely, it's going to be a hurricane or a nor'easter," Lesemann said at the June 26 Township Council meeting. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on evacuation procedures to council members and residents. The areas that would need to be evacuated first include the barrier island, Route 35 and low-lying areas on the mainland, like portions of Mantoloking Road and Princeton Avenue. "That's where the flood waters will wreak the most damage," he said. Residents will have a number of places to turn to in the event of an emergency, including Comcast, BTV20, local and state radio stations and the police department's Web site at www.Brickpd.com. Police will also use loudspeakers on patrol cars, ambulances and fire trucks to alert residents who need to be evacuated, he said. "They will go door to door if necessary," he said. Police have another resource - the department's new reverse 911 system, which has all of Verizon's listed and unlisted telephone numbers - to notify residents, said Lesemann. He has been the deputy emergency management coordinator for seven years and a police officer for 25 years. "This is a wonderful thing," he told the audience. "I record a message, hit the button and it goes to everyone. I can send a message to every phone number we have in 90 minutes. The notification is very quick. We are glad to have it." There are 16 phone lines in the township's reverse 911 phone bank. But if need be, the township can use a paid service that provides up to 2,000 dedicated phone lines. The township is working on obtaining phone numbers from other carriers in the future, he said after the meeting. Coastal evacuation signs are already posted along Route 35, low-lying areas and the mainland to direct residents. There are plans to add more coastal evacuation route signs and to make them larger, so they are more visible, he said. The police department will also use mobile sign boards at designated areas. "They will tell them where to go and what shelters are open," Lesemann said. Police will turn both the north and south lanes of Route 35 from Sixth Avenue north into two northbound lanes, he said. "There will be no southbound Route 35," he said. Mainland traffic would be directed west, either on Route 70 or Route 195, if a westerly evacuation is required, he said. North/south evacuations would use the Garden State Parkway, Route 35 and Route 9, he said. The township will station municipal and Board of Education buses at various points in town to provide transportation to shelters for residents who need a place to stay during the emergency. There are three designated shelters - Brick Memorial High School, Emma Havens School and Veterans Memorial Middle School. Additional shelters can be opened if needed. "Which shelters are open depends on the particular emergency," he said. But Lesemann said 75 to 80 percent of Brick residents will not use shelters because they will stay with relatives or friends. "The Red Cross will come down and literally operate the shelter for us," he said. "Unfortunately, they do not allow pets, so we will set up a section away from the general population for people and their pets." The Salvation Army will also help with providing food, if needed, he said. "I think you are well-organized in case we have an emergency," Councilwoman Kathy Russell said. Resident William Green asked what would happen if there were an emergency at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township. "There are different levels of alerts," Lesemann said. "It all depends on what is happening down there." If there were some type of radiological accident at Oyster Creek, Brick Township High School would be used as a "reception and decontamination center," he said. "There is a plan, that's all I wanted to know," the man said. "Absolutely," Lesemann replied. The township does not have a Haz-Mat unit, but three of the fire companies are equipped to handle small chemical incidents, he said. Brick has an agreement with the Ocean County Sheriff's Department to handle any larger problems, Lesemann said. "One phone call to the Sheriff's Department, and the Haz-Mat team is on its way," he said. The state requires all municipalities to have an emergency operation plan for a variety of emergencies. The township's emergency operations plan is reviewed twice a year, he said. "It's imperative that it remains as accurate as possible," Lesemann said.