Brick Installing Lightning Detection System At Brick Beach 1 And 3

BRICK, NJ — Thunderstorms have long posed a risk to those at the beach. Nearly every summer there is a report of a person being struck by lightning and dying because of a lightning strike from storm that has moved in quickly.

Despite the dangers, getting people to leave the beach ahead of a storm has been a problem for beach staff, including lifeguards, who get accused of just wanting to go home early or otherwise insulted by beachgoers.

Brick Township officials are taking a new approach this summer, installing a lightning detection system at Brick Beach 1 and Brick Beach 3 to alert beachgoers when conditions that produce lightning exist, similar to the systems used at golf courses to warn golfers when thunderstorms move in.

It was something that had been under consideration, but took on urgency after the death of lifeguard Keith Pinto in Berkeley Township last August, when lightning struck on a clear, sunny day, Brick Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic said.

"In addition to the unspeakable tragedy of losing a young lifeguard, what made this incident such a wakeup call was that from all accounts, it happened on a cloudless day with no storm in sight," she said.

The system Brick is purchasing, the Thor Guard lightning prediction and warning system, is able to predict an impending lightning strike based on atmospheric conditions and charged ions in the air.

"Clearing the public from the beach with a storm clearly moving in has always been a daunting task for the beach staff for as long as I can remember," Zapcic said. "The unruly behavior, the insults and disparaging remarks hurled at the lifeguards, and in some instances, the outright refusal to leave is just mind-boggling."

With the Thor Guard system, there is a siren that sounds when conditions exist for potential lightning strikes.

"It will remove the perceived subjectivity of the beach staff," Zapcic said, "and help get the public quickly and safely out of danger."

The township's policy has been to make two announcements clearing the beach and then the township's staff — badge checkers and lifeguards — leave the area, said Joanne Bergin, the township's business administrator.

"These systems remove the risk associated with personnel being on the beach, trying to warn people, while putting themselves in harm’s way," Bergin said. "This takes our employees out of the mix while still warning people of the danger."

The Thor Guard system will be permanently installed in the area near where the badge checkers are located, Bergin said.

It has a beacon that flashes when lightning conditions are detected, and a siren that sounds to alert people to the danger, she said. The system will be able to operate at times when there are people walking the beach but no staff present to warn people.

The siren can be set to silent at night to prevent it from waking residents near the beaches. When the siren is off, the system still functions via the flashing light, Bergin said. The hours for the siren component can be set on an app, removing the need for an employee to be present.

Bergin said the systems will be caged at the base to protect the equipment and prevent vandalism.

The total cost for the installation of the system at Brick Beach 1 and Brick Beach 3 is $45,700 with a monthly fee for operation and maintenance, and the town is purchasing it through a state contract with the company.

Note: This article has been updated to correct which Brick beaches will have the lightning detection system.