Hurricane Irene: Township Officials Finalizing Emergency Plans

A meeting scheduled for today will bring Warren's emergency responders together to review and set final plans for the township's response to the approaching hurricane.

The Office of Emergency Management includes police, fire, rescue, public works and municipal officials and is resposnible for developing plans for dealing with just such an emergency as a major storm.

OEM Coordinator Jane Asch, who was returing from out-of-state yesterday, will meet with the representatives to make sure the township is prepared for any problems that may arise as a result of the storm. The group will finalize plans for opening an emergency shelter, if one is needed, as well as endeavor to make sure major roads are passable.

In addition, the group will discuss the steps already taken in advance of the storm.

Doug Buro, superintedent of the Department of Public Works, said his crews have been busy filling 500 sand bags and clearing drainage basins this week.

"One of the biggest problems we do have to worry about up here is that we get a lot of fallen trees," he said Thursday.

Consequently, his crews will be on standby this weekend in storm damage requires the crews to clean up debris.

"If it gets real bad, we'll bring them in," Buro said.

Many streams in Warren are likely to swell and if old limbs and branches block culverts or storm drains, roads can quickly become dangerous—to help prevent such problems, Buro said DPW crews have been clearing debris in and around streambeds.

The sand bags will available for use if areas in town become flooded—he said residents should contact the police department if flooding is a concern, and the department will coordinate any sandbagging efforts.

Warren Township Police Lt. Robert Glen said the police are also on standby, with officers aware of the potential need for additional help should the storm cause serious damage.

Hurricanes' unpredictability make preparations challenging—as of Friday morning, the storm had slowed to a Category II hurricane, with winds of about 110 mph, and is expected to reach New Jersey with sustained wind speed of 74 mph, according to The Weather Channel's hurricane tracker. But the storm could also veer away from the coast and gain speed before slamming into the Northeast.