Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Challenging Circumstances

Berkeley Township, New Jersey, encompasses some of the areas hardest-hit by Hurricane Sandy, including both oceanfront and inland areas devastated by the storm. Dealing with a natural disaster of this scope is a challenge for any police agency.

In this photograph, Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele uses the p.a. system in a police vehicle to address residents last week, residents who are gathered to obtain passes to go to their property to inspect damage and collect possessions. Yes, as of this writing the portions of Berkeley Township that are on the Island Beach barrier island remain off-limits to residents and property owners, and access is being carefully controlled. There is no electric service, the natural gas service has been turned off pending repairs to damaged gas mains, and roads are damaged and/or blocked by debris.

We know – we have family who are year-round residents of the area, now displaced to a rental property elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of David Gard/The Star-Ledger