LONGPORT – The New Jersey Coastal Coalition held a press conference at Borough Hall Thursday to unveil a new weather app that will provide updated information about storms, flooding and wildfires.
Coastal Coalition Executive Director Tom Quirk said the coalition, which includes municipalities in coastal communities from Cape May to Long Beach Island and several inland communities, has worked for several years to develop the app, which if free to coalition members and the public.
Mayor Nicholas Russo said the coalition started shortly after Hurricane 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, is proactive.”
Coastal Coalition Executive Director Tom Quirk presents retiring Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo with a plaque for being a founding member of the coalition.The app, which is updated at midnight with the latest information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will include access to pertinent 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,” Russo said.
Quirk said the coalition has been working for years to develop the app, which 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.”
The cloud-based app is free for coastal communities to download and post to their websites, and it’s free for residents to download to any device.
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, and participating municipalities can send localized messages, according to developer John Gee of Western Solutions.
Meteorologist Joe Martucci is coordinating membership. Municipalities that join will be required to pass a resolution confirming participation. The weather app is currently available in Margate, Stone Harbor, Upper Township, Atlantic City, and Stafford and Commercial townships.
“It’s a great tool to communicate with residents,” Quirk said.
Longport residents can access the app under the Local Flood & Emergency Warnings tab on the right side of the homepage, or see https://platform.trumpia.com/onlineSignup/johnrichardgee/NJCCalert
Copyright Access Network 2025
