UPDATE: City Making Preliminary Preparations Ahead of Possible Hurricane

The southend beach replenishment project wrapped up on Tuesday, one day before reports began to surface of a hurricane possibly making landfall in Ocean City.

Tropical Storm Joaquin was upgraded to a hurricane on Wednesday.

It’s too early to tell if it will make landfall in New Jersey. However, if it does, it’s likely to hit on Sunday night.

Before that, Ocean City Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Donato is keeping an eye on heavy rain expected to pound the city on Thursday and Friday.

“We might have another 2-3 inches of rain, regardless of what Joaquin does,” Donato said.

Moderate coastal flooding is possible on Thursday. Moderate to major coastal flooding is possible on Friday. Beach erosion can be expected as well, Donato said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

Anyone who typically experiences flooding during storms should plan to move their vehicles to higher ground beginning Thursday, Donato said.

Ocean City beaches are currently unguarded.

“We are currently experiencing very rough surf and there is a strong probability of dangerous rip tides in the ocean,” Donato said in the statement. “All residents and visitors are strongly discouraged from entering the ocean. Water conditions will be extremely dangerous.”

Residents, visitors and business owners are encouraged to remove or secure loose objects on porches and around properties in anticipation of high winds.

All Hobie Cat / Sailboat owners are requested to pull their boats as far back on the beach as possible or remove them.Boat owners are reminded to properly secure their boats or remove them from the water.Contractors are requested to properly secure all work sites. Remove all loose debris and materials that may become a problem in the event of high winds or flooding.

Earlier in the day, Donato said he’s not concerned about the south end, between 37th and 59th streets, which just received 1.47 million cubic yards of sand on those beaches as part of a $57 million project to rebuild the beaches in Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City following Superstorm Sandy.

“We don’t want to lose any of that sand, but that’s what it’s there for,” Donato said. “ … It’s nice to have it there for recreation, but it’s also there for coastal protection. That’s why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does these projects.”
The project was conducted by Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Company out of Oak Brook, Illinois. The same company will also handle the north end beach replenishment project. That contract was recently awarded.

Donato is keeping an eye on this area, which suffered some cliffing and scarfing last week.

“It’s done better over the last three years than in previous three-year cycles,” Donato said. “It’s been relatively quiet the last few years, since Sandy, so it’s in a little better shape.”

Donato said once Hurricane Watches and Warnings start coming out, Ocean City will step up preparations.

“We’re going to keep an eye out and act accordingly,” Donato said.

The attached image was posted on the National Weather Service’s website.

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