Community Corner

Sandy Strikes: Ongoing Updates for Cinna, Pal, Riv

The township's emergency command center will be staffed 24/7.

Get up to the minute information on Sandy. Follow Cinnaminson Patch on Facebook and Twitter, sign up for our breaking news alerts and visit our special storm topic page.

UPDATE MONDAY, 8:30 P.M.: Hurricane Sandy has hit landfall in Atlantic City. Click here for information.

UPDATE MONDAY, 7:15 P.M.: Both the Tacony-Palmyra and the Burlington Bristol bridges are now closed.

Find out what's happening in Cinnaminsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

UPDATE MONDAY, 5 P.M.: There are reports of a few downed trees and the creek in West Branch Woods off Stephen Drive flooding. We haven't heard many reports of local power outages yet. Our Moorestown Patch editor lost power at 4:30 so it could be coming our way.

UPDATE MONDAY, 10 A.M.: Trick-or-treating in Cinnaminson has been postponed until Friday. No word from Palmyra or Riverton yet. 

Find out what's happening in Cinnaminsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

UPDATE MONDAY, 3:30 A.M.: The Forklanding Road bridge is closed.

UPDATE SUNDAY, 8:30 P.M.: A Red Cross emergency shelter will be set up in at the community center in Palmyra (capacity 200) beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. 

UPDATE SUNDAY, 8 P.M.: The following lots are available for resident parking: VIP Auto Sales, River Road; Presidential Center, Rt. 130; and the Shoppes at Cinnaminson, Cinnaminson Avenue.  

UPDATE SUNDAY, 4:30 P.M.: Cinnaminson schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday. St. Charles is closed Monday and Tuesday. The township building will be closed Monday.

UPDATE SUNDAY, 3 P.M.: Palmyra Borough Hall will be closed for normal business on Monday. A determination will be made on Monday if normal business will resume on Tuesday. 

UPDATE SUNDAY, 1 P.M.: According to Mayor Don Brauckmann, public works will be fully staffed today, picking up leaves first in the township's flood-prone sections, then in the township's low-lying areas, then to the bulk of the township.

However, all neighborhoods may not be cleared before the storm.

"They will be trying to get as much as they can," Brauckmann said. "We are aggressively trying to manage this as best we can."

At the storm's height, the township will concentrate on crisis areas.

UPDATE Sunday, 12:20 p.m.: The township's office of emergency management is asking residents to consider moving from the second floor of their homes when sleeping to avoid fallen trees or branches.

UPDATE SUNDAY, 10:30 a.m.: Palmyra officials are asking residents who live in low-lying areas to seek alternate shelter. 

ORIGINAL STORY: Cinnaminson is "well-prepared" for Hurricane Sandy's arrival in a couple days, according to Public Safety Director Michael P. King, who is part of the township's emergency management team.

The team has met three times over the last couple days to make sure the township and its residents are doing everything to prepare for the storm.

On Sunday, the public works department will be checking out the township's low-lying areas that are prone to flooding and will be picking up leaves. Leaves will only make matters worse, so the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly and Cinnaminson officials are encouraging residents to keep storm drains clear for drainage.

Cinnaminson's emergency management team will operate a command center, staffed 24/7, starting at 8 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

"If we have widespread outages," King said, "we'll extend that."

King said emergency officials will be very "fluent" with its residents as the storm progresses.

"Everybody is working really well together," he said. "We feel like we're well-prepared."

The emergency team will hold a conference call Sunday, too.

"If there's anything we need to modify, we'll do that," King said.

The latest weather report from the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly shows the path of the storm has moved slightly north and east but the potential for severe impact to our region remains.

High wind watches, flood watches and coastal flood watches remain in effect. 

To see the latest report, click here

On Saturday, the emergency management team contacted residents through Global Connect, an emergency messaging service, telling residents who live in flood-prone areas to seek alternate shelter during the storm.

"We're asking everybody to cooperate," King said.

To follow Cinnaminson Patch's coverage of Hurricane Sandy, follow our page here. There, you will find updated weather information, safety tips, cancellations, and more.

The message sent is reprinted below:

This is an important message from the Cinnaminson Township Police Department and the Cinnaminson Office of Emergency Management regarding the forecasted weather for our area.

All citizens living in flood prone and low-lying areas are asked to plan now for re-location with friends or family. Those with medical conditions requiring electric should consider developing a contingency plan in the event of a power outage.

Those in flood prone areas are asked to move any vehicles parked in the roadway beginning Sunday evening. The following lots are available for residents parking: VIP Auto Sales on River Road, Presidential Center on Rt. 130 and the Shoppes at Cinnaminson on Cinnaminson Avenue. 

Homeowners are reminded that tree branches and leaves should NOT be in the street as they can lead to blocking storm drains, and flooding roads. Any loose items such as patio furniture, decorations, lawn signs and trash cans should be stored securely to prevent them from causing damage or injury. 

Refer to the www.FEMA.gov website to learn more about emergency preparedness. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available. 


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