OCEAN COUNTY – Officials from the National Weather Service are still investigating last night’s storm after there were multiple sightings of tornadoes in Ocean County.
Most of the damage is reported on the north end of Long Beach Island, where police received three 911 calls, with multiple houses’ roofs being blown off, Long Beach Township Police said.
Police suspect that around 9:22 p.m., a tornado caused damage on Antioch Rd., Arnold Blvd, Collier Avenue and Sunset Blvd. in the High Bar Harbor section. Three residents in the area were treated on scene for lacerations and several residents were evacuated and taken to the Barnegat Light Firehouse for shelter, police said.
Police have reported 35 plus houses as well as multiple boats were damaged from the suspected tornado in the north LBI area. Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom and Surf City Police Departments all arrived to assist the area as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and New Jersey State Marine Police.
There was also assistance provided from Stafford Township Fire and First Aid Squads in addition to each Fire and First Aid Squad on Long Beach Island. Berkeley Hazmat, the Long Beach Township Transportation Department shuttle buses and Long Beach Township Department of Public Works also assisted.
In addition, there were suspected tornadoes spotted in Barnegat and the Silverton section of Toms River, although not confirmed by the National Weather Service. It’s said a suspected tornado traveled through Route 72 in Barnegat. Barnegat Police said there were several wires and trees down on Route 72 and Route 539.
In Toms River, Ocean County Scanner News was first to report a suspected tornado and multiple trees down in the area.
At this time, National Weather Service is still surveying storm damage and collecting information in the affected areas to confirm the tornadoes.
