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Sirens Will Announce the Warning All Across the Town's Beaches
When lightning is a possibility, Toms River will deploy a lightning warning system on its township beaches to alert beachgoers to leave.
When lightning is detected within a 20-mile radius, the
Strike Guard warning system monitors cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning and sounds an alarm via a warning siren.
The municipality is installing the sirens at its two lifeguard stations, which cover roughly 2,000 feet each, according to Lou Amoruso, township business administrator. According to him, the system has been ordered, and the town plans to have it installed by the Fourth of July weekend.
"We'll be able to cover the whole length of the municipal beach with a siren at each of our two guard posts," Amoruso added.
When thunderstorms are in the vicinity, the addition of the lightning warning system relieves the stress on the township's beach workers. Lifeguards have had to deal with beachgoers who refuse to leave for decades, especially when the threat isn't clear.
Since the death of lifeguard Keith Pinto in Berkeley Township last summer, when lightning struck on a clear, sunny day, the worry has grown in intensity. That lightning strike also injured seven other people.
Strike Guard claims that their device does not generate false warnings. The warning signal is sent to the sirens via wireless technology. It also has the capacity to communicate the warnings using a strobe light.
It is expected to cost around $34,000, according to Amoruso.
