Taking Command of the Situation, Tinton Falls Officials and Police Prepare for Storm

As roads began to collect pockets of water when the first bands of rain from hit the area, representatives from all branches of Tinton Falls emergency services were gathered at borough hall bracing for the worst.

According to , emergency services coordinator for the borough, the team had been developing a plan for the potentially Category One storm since Tuesday.

One of the top concerns for the borough is the flooding along Asbury Avenue and Heritage Boulevard, especially around Garden State Parkway Exit 102. Mayor Michael Skudera said that during a conference call with Saturday morning with other area mayors, he alerted the governor to the issue and asked if traffic could be diverted.

As the storm intensifies, Skudera said the borough would feed exiting traffic back onto the parkway to prevent drivers from heading straight into flooded roadways.

Generators were set up at substations throughout Tinton Falls to prevent flooding if electricity is lost, said Mack.

During the evening roll call at 7 p.m. with the seven police officers working the 12-hour night shift, during the brunt of the storm, both Mack and stressed to the group the need for safety.

"You really need to protect yourselves," said Mack.

The officers were encouraged to keep drivers off the road after 8 p.m. and to be especially aware of downed wires. The borough had earlier asked that all businesses in town close by 8 p.m. Saturday.

Scrivanic said that four of the officers from the previous shift were bunking overnight at the station on air mattresses set up in various offices to go out again at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

"No one's taking any chances," said Skudera.

Mack, who came on board with the borough as OEM after December's blizzard, said that everyone had learned from that history-making storm -- both emergency service workers and residents.

He said on his end, the borough had sought to maintain a -- among the many departments, officials and residents. The borough has utilized the CODE RED emergency alert system to notify residents of the intensity of the storm and transmit important safety information. The borough's Web site has also been updated with the latest information on the storm.

Skudera has issued two e-mails as well, bringing residents up to date on the storm.

"There's been a lot of prep work," said Mack. "We're trying to make life a little easier."