Weather forecaster Jim Eberwine talks about weather patterns along the eastern seaboard during a Hurricane Preparedness meeting held in Ventnor.
Downbeach emergency management coordinators will be holding their annual Hurricane Preparedness meeting for residents and businesses in Ventnor, Margate and Longport 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 22 in the multi-purpose room at the Margate Municipal Building, 9001 Winchester Ave. The meeting will be especially informative for those who are new to the Downbeach area or unfamiliar with life on a barrier island.
The meeting will educate the public about how to properly prepare for a major weather event, such as a nor'easter, snowstorm and especially for hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season starts in June and ends in November when the population is at its highest.
The panel of speakers includes Emergency Management Coordinators Chuck LaBarre of Margate, Donna Peterson of Ventnor and Bruce Funk of Longport, along with the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Vince Jones, representatives of Atlantic City Electric, South Jersey Gas and Comcast.
The meeting will include a weather outlook from retired National Weather Service forecaster Jim Eberwine and Meteorologist Joe Martucci, and a talk by a local veterinarian.
Information will be shared about the importance of heeding evacuation orders, evacuation routes and offshore shelters; preparing your home for a flooding event or loss of power; preparing a "go bag" with important documents, medicines, and a 3-day supply of food and water; how to ensure the safety of your pets; and how to become a Community Emergency Response Team volunteer.
Emergency management officials will also share updates on the region's Coastal Resiliency Plan and the Atlantic County Multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The meeting will last about 90 minutes. No reservations are required and the public is strongly encouraged to attend.
