According to Mount Laurel Township Manager Jennifer Blumenthal, Mount Laurel experienced spotty power outages throughout the community as a result of Hurricane Irene.
The Canterbury, Ramblewood, Masonville, Rancocas Woods, and Fellowship sections of the township had the most prolonged power outages. An exact number of Mount Laurel customers that lost power was not provided to Blumenthal by PSE&G.
“However, during the peak of Hurricane Irene’s affects on our area PSE&G had to pull all their electric repair/restoration crews off of the road because the sustained wind speeds and wind gust exceeded the safety parameters for their lineman to operate safely,” Blumenthal said. “To our knowledge power has been restored to all customers. The township building had no power until early Monday afternoon.”
The township used its reverse 9–1–1 system that it enacted last year to notify residents in the Ramblewood and Laurelwood areas of flooding and voluntary evacuation recommendations. This decision was made after the ground became saturated with more rain expected in areas known to have flooded in the past along the north branch of the Pennsauken Creek.
When water was found backing up onto streets that was greater than 18 inches deep with the report of water in basements these areas were identified for voluntary evacuations. Firefighters knocked on individual doors in the affected areas to alert approximately 162 households of the flood threat.
Mount Laurel schools had two school buses at the ready for transportation to two county regional shelters in Florence and Medford. Mount Laurel police and EMS personnel aided in the potential evacuation plan. The Mount Laurel community development director and the Mount Laurel fire official inspected many homes for life safety hazards related to flooded basements in these affected areas. Only one person opted to voluntary evacuate.
The township spent the week preceding the hurricane preparing for emergency management needs and preparing the township. Overall, the township experienced minimal damage for such a large storm. Flooding occurred only in areas that were already vulnerable to flooding during any storm with heavy rainfall.
The limited flooding can be attributed to the public works department’s preparations in cleaning various basins and storm drains prior to the storm.
Many trees fell due to the water and winds. The township’s public works department was able to remove the down trees with quick response time.
“I would like to thank the department of public works for their professional and diligent mitigation work leading up to the storm and response during the hurricane,” Blumenthal said. “I believe only one Mount Laurel resident evacuated with the help of the township.”
All residents can now occupy their homes although some are still without electric. PSE&G has informed Blumenthal that it is working on restoring power to all households.
“The Mount Laurel Police Department worked tirelessly throughout this weather event on patrol to identify power outages, flooding, downed trees and wires, communicating this information into our township emergency operations center,” Blumenthal said. “Our fire department and department of public works responded swiftly and efficiently to mitigate most hazards, to clear debris and to alert residents of potential hazards.”
Several motor vehicle accidents were managed during the storm in the township, on I-295 and on the New Jersey Turnpike that were caused by the weather. Mount Laurel Municipal Utilities Authority monitored their pump stations to ensure that generators where operating sewage pumps when power outages affected normal operations to maintain normal service and to prevent problems.
