Emergency Officials Prepare As Hurricane Season Hits Our Area
By Syma Chowdhry
LINDENWOLD, N.J., (CBS) - As Tropical Storm Andrea moves into the Delaware Valley, hurricane season begins in our area.
Folks are trying to stay dry during Friday's rain storms - hoping the hurricane season won't be that active.
"I think it's going to be bad. I don't want anyone to be affected by it," said Paddy Cooney of Gloucester City. "Not good at all, I'm trying to head down the shore."
Those plans are washed out as Tropical Storm Andrea zips up the East Coast.
Emergency officials are preparing for this and other weather systems.
Camden County has expanded its Emergency Operations Center, and Superstorm Sandy had a great deal with that.
"When Hurricane Sandy happened, when you came down here, people were literally just packed in here," said Camden County Freeholder Scot McCray.
McCray says the room will act as the county's nerve center during emergencies for 37 municipalities.
Officials created a larger space and nearly doubled the work stations.
During storms, employees keep a close eye on flood prone areas.
"The Brooklawn Circle, Gloucester City, Route 130, we have a whole bunch of areas, Camden city," said Samuel Spino, Camden County Emergency Management Coordinator.
The center can help dispatch first responders with enhanced communication systems during emergency situations.
The center has a radio room where messages can be sent out internationally.
And if the Internet is down, employees can send an email through a radio program.
"There is a whole bunch of things that happen because we put technology into play," said Spino.
