Storm Winds Damage 2 Buildings In Wall, Prompt Route 34 Closure

WALL, NJ — Authorities were assessing damage to two buildings near the Monmouth Executive Airport on Friday following Thursday night's storm that brought down multiple trees and wires throughout the township, police said.

"Strong winds resulted in multiple calls for services, trees down and power outages," Wall Lt. Michael Hurden said. The storm, which passed through in the early morning hours, brought down a number of utility poles and traffic lights on Route 34, leading to a complete shutdown of the highway between the Collingswood Circle and Interstate 195 until Sunday morning.

Meterologists with the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office said the damage in Wall was not due to a tornado. "Everything we're seeing suggests straight-line wind damage at Wall," meterologists said in a remark on the office's Facebook page.

Police urged drivers to exercise more caution and to slow down when they are in the area of road crews, utility crews or first responders working in the area.

Hurden said police, the Glendola Fire Department and the Wall Township Building Department responded to two building collapses at 1717 Route 34, the site of several commercial buildings at the Monmouth Executive Airport. One was Triple C Tires, officials confirmed. The second business damaged was not immediately available. A recreational vehicle at the site also was damaged, he said.

No injuries were sustained as a result of the collapses, Hurden said.

The Glendola Fire Company posted photos of wires down in several spots during the night, including a photo of a downed wire on fire in a tree on Gully Road and downed tree on Carol Court that hit a vehicle.

Thousands of people were without power across the state and one town declared its own state of emergency as it dealt with severe damage. Read more: 27K Lose Power, Schools Close After Severe

Police reminded residents that the department is working closely with other services, including the fire departments, emergency medical services, the Office of Emergency Management, Department of Public Works, township administrator and elected officials through the storm and its aftermath.

More than 1,500 homes and businesses were without electricity Friday morning but by 10 a.m. most had been restored. Jersey Central Power & Light crews were dealing with storm damage in several areas.

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