Flooding remains a chronic threat at the shore. Here, flooding leaves a section of Sea Isle City's Sounds Avenue underwater in September 2024.
The New Jersey Coastal Coalition has unveiled a new weather app that provides updated emergency information about storms, flooding and wildfires.
Coastal Coalition Executive Director Tom Quirk said the group has worked for several years to develop the app, which is free to coalition members and the public.
Formed after Hurricane Sandy struck the Jersey Shore in October 2012, the coalition includes municipalities in coastal towns from Cape May to Long Beach Island and several inland communities. Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Cape May are among the members.
Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo said the coalition started shortly after Sandy to “get everyone on the same page” regarding storm and flooding preparedness. Longport, Margate and Ventnor were founding members of the organization.
“There are only two ways to create public policy,” Russo said. “You can be reactive or proactive. This agency was created through reaction … but now policies, such as this app, are proactive,” Russo during a news conference Thursday in Longport to unveil the app.
The cloud-based app is free for coastal communities to download and post to their websites. It’s free for residents to download to any device.
The weather app is currently available in Margate, Stone Harbor, Upper Township, Atlantic City, and Stafford and Commercial townships.
Residents can access the app at https://platform.trumpia.com/onlineSignup/johnrichardgee/NJCCalert.
Municipalities that join will be required to pass a resolution confirming participation. Meteorologist Joe Martucci is coordinating membership.
N.J. Coastal Coalition Executive Director Tom Quirk, left, presents retiring Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo with a plaque for being a founding member of the coalition. (Photo courtesy of Steve Jasiecki)The app is updated at midnight with the latest information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It will include access to critical information, including evacuation routes.
Russo said to be well-prepared for storms and flooding events, all municipalities must put aside geographic and political boundaries.
“We’re all in this together,” he emphasized.
Quirk explained that the app is designed to be educational and informative for residents of coastal communities.
“We live here, so we know what to do, but visitors and newer residents don’t know,” Quirk said. “There are only five ways off Absecon Island, and some of them flood.”
In the event of a severe weather event, the app will send text or email messages as long as 24 hours in advance of minor, moderate or major flooding, giving residents ample time to prepare. Participating municipalities can send localized messages, according to developer John Gee of Western Solutions.
“It’s a great tool to communicate with residents,” Quirk said.
