Cranford Police Department 2011 Annual Report - Cranford.com

2011 In Review
Cranford Police Department—Hurricane Irene
In addition to local homes and businesses, the
flooding also impacted the Cranford Municipal
Building causing the first floor of the
building to be abandoned with over 3
feet of standing water and sewage.
The Cranford Police Department was
forced to evacuate in the middle of
the storm and operate for several
days from a mobile command post
provided by the Union County Office
of Emergency Management.
Estimates to repair the government
facility topped $2 million and repairs
are expected to take about a year to
complete.
Within hours of the storm’s passage, recovery
and remediation efforts began in earnest. The
American Red Cross provided volunteer help and
cleaning supplies. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency and the Small Business
Administration were on site to conduct damage
assessments and assist with financial loans and
grants to affected parties. Cranford Public
Works personnel, assisted by outside haulers
and Union County agencies, began the months
long task of clearing debris. Municipal business
was conducted from temporary trailers and
extra police patrols were deployed to deter
scavengers and other criminals from targeting
the flood impacted areas.
Along the east coast of the United States,
Hurricane Irene was projected to be responsible
for over $1 billion in damage costs. Locally, the
storm was assessed as one of the worst storms
in Cranford history.
Photo, top, Cranford First Aid Squad during flood.
Photo, middle, Cranford Fire Department was used to
temporarily house the Cranford First Aid Squad after
the loss of their building.
Photo, bottom, High Water Vehicles from the United
States Army used for water rescue operations.
Cranford Police Department—2011 Annual Report 65