JERSEY SHORE – Tornado warnings were taken seriously on the evening of April 1 and confirmed by the National Weather Service to have four tornadoes touched down in Jackson, Howell, Sea Girt and Cinnaminson.
Local officials declared a disaster emergency on Sunday as residents began evaluating the damage and clearing debris. Schools were closed in Jackson and Howell townships on April 3 as cleanup efforts continued from the severe storm. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson will be closed until April 5 as a safety measure. Great Adventure was also closed on April 2.
JCP&L reported that around 21,000 customers were without power. Of this, 5,940 outages were reported in Monmouth County and 14,233 were reported in Ocean County.
A large tree crashed down on a Howell residence. No one was injured. The powerful winds also pulled down power lines leaving numerous customers without light or power.
A twin-engine jet lost control and ran off the runway while landing at Monmouth Executive Airport during severe weather warnings on April 1, according to police.
Authorities said there were two people inside the Citation jet, the pilot and co-pilot. Both got out of the plane uninjured. However, the plane sustained significant damage.
Wall Fire District 2 with assistance from Monmouth County Hazmat were able to isolate the fuel from the aircraft. The next morning, emergency crews returned to remove the plane as well as debris. Spilled fuel was mitigated, police said. The airport was initially closed during the investigation and has now reopened.
Jackson Mayor Michael Reina said, “there aren’t enough words to praise the efforts of the following during and after an EF 2 Tornado touched down here in Jackson.”
Mayor Reina noted the work of the township Police, Department Fire Companies, First Aid, OEM, DPW, Chaverim and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. “I’m not leaving out the many residents who came out to assist their neighbors and friends after the storm had left the area. I have had the opportunity over my 15 years as mayor to watch, work with and applaud the efforts, professionalism and dedication of all these men and women who come out on top again and again regardless of the conditions, be it a superstorm or a blizzard, flooding to fires.”
“I could not be prouder of each and every one of them. Alongside members of OEM, First Aid, the NWS, State Police and DPW we walked and surveyed the damages, the path of the storm and watched electrical and tree removal crews and homeowners work tirelessly on cleanup and repairs. JCP&L methodically went from street to street correcting and diagnosing the troubled and destroyed lines and poles,” Reina said.
“From emergency generators powering intersections, to closed roads, Jackson was as safe as it could be during a time where people were scared while experiencing a powerful weather event. Our residents have shown their resiliency once again working hand in hand with each other during another weather-related event,” he said.
“Through it all, we are lucky in so many ways to have such a powerful storm touch down on a Saturday evening at approximately 7:50 p.m. and not have a single injury or fatality. That is a blessing by itself and I am very grateful for that,” Mayor Reina added.
A tornado also touched down in Bridgeville, Delaware according to the National Weather Service. That tornado destroyed several homes and one person died when a home collapsed.
Alyssa Riccardi contributed to this story
