JACKSON, NJ – Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina said he was relieved after learning that nobody was injured due to an EF-2 tornado with 120-mile-per-hour plus winds.
Reina met with officials from the National Weather Service on Monday as the federal agency investigated the damage to determine the strength and path of the twister that caused major damage to the northern part of the town.
The tornado and associated storm destroyed a sports bubble at the new Adventure Crossing sports complex, a warehouse under construction on West Commodore Boulevard and damaged multiple homes, cutting power to thousands for as long as 48 hours.
“I can’t say enough about the emergency response from our police department, fire departments, EMS, OEM and other volunteers who came to our aid,” Reina said. “They were the true heroes in all of this.”
Reina said he spent Saturday night monitoring the situation from inside the Jackson Police Department headquarters and was shocked to see the level of damage in the town the following day.
“We’re very fortunate that we didn’t have any injuries; this could have been much worse,” Reina said about the tornado, which tore through northern Jackson and ended in Howell Township.
Reina said the overall effort by residents, first responders, JCP&L, and others was amazing, with roads being reopened and power restored quickly.
The mayor also thanked Chaverim for bringing a freezer truck to the Jackson Police Department, which allowed residents to store their perishables while the power was out safely.
“The entire community came together to help each other; it was great to see the generosity and caring for each other in the aftermath,” Reina added.
Reina also warned residents to stay out of damaged areas and buildings. He noted township officials and the owner of the building on West Commodore is not sound and could collapse. A temporary fence will be built around the structure in the coming days, and Jackson patrol officers will make sure curious onlookers keep a safe distance.
The mayor also said the loss of the bubble at Adventure Crossing is a temporary setback on a project that is aimed at making the township a major tourist destination outside of Six Flags Great Adventure.
“You got jobs out there, damage, but the most important thing is that everyone is ok,” he said.
Reina added that two area power substations were damaged during the storm which compounded the efforts to restore power.