Missing camper found safe at bass river campground as storm leaves timberline without power

Missing Camper Found Safe at Bass River Campground as Storm Leaves Timberline Without Power

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1 min read
July 3, 2026

A missing person reported to be in the water at Timberline Campground was found safe, but the campground remained without electricity Friday night as severe storms swept across South Jersey.

Bass River, NJ – A water rescue at Timberline Lake Campground ended safely Friday evening after emergency responders located a missing person who was believed to have entered the water according to local fire dispatch reports.

The incident prompted a response to the Bass River campground, where a dive team was requested after reports of a missing person possibly in the lake. Authorities later confirmed the individual had been found safe.

The emergency was followed by severe thunderstorms that moved through New Jersey, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, and widespread power outages.

Campground loses power during storms

Following the storms, Timberline Lake Campground announced it was without electricity and was awaiting updates from Jersey Central Power & Light on restoration efforts.

“Please if you feel unsafe in this storm, please go to the bathroom on the lakeside or by the store,” the campground advised guests in a social media update.

The campground added that it had contacted Jersey Central Power & Light regarding the outage and would provide updates when an estimated restoration time becomes available.

Storms cause widespread outages

The campground was among thousands of locations impacted as severe weather knocked out power to large portions of central and southern New Jersey Friday evening.

Utility crews continued restoration efforts overnight as emergency responders handled storm-related incidents across the state.

Key Points

  • A missing person reported in the water at Timberline Lake Campground in Bass River was found safe.
  • The incident prompted a water rescue response, including a requested dive team.
  • Timberline Lake Campground remained without power Friday night following severe thunderstorms and is awaiting restoration updates from Jersey Central Power & Light.

Related: Bass River, Timberline Lake Campground, Jersey Central Power & Light, Power Outage, New Jersey Storms

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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