Brick Township officials are preparing for winter storms in both the short and long term, with plans to acquire beach fencing to protect dunes and a new high-water vehicle to assist in emergency responded and evacuations during future foul weather events.
Dune Fencing
A fence installed along the beachfront in Normandy Beach. (Photo: Dan Redmond)
The township council approved measures to purchase each this week, starting with snow fencing that will be installed and run along the township’s oceanfront. The governing body voted unanimously to solicit bids for the wooden fencing at their meeting Tuesday.
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“This project will help protect the beaches and dunes and the beaches during the upcoming winter storm season,” said Councilwoman Melissa Travers.
The fencing will be installed a minimum of 15-feet from the base of the existing dune and will include the construction of overlapping fence openings for beach access points.
High-Water Vehicle
Lenco Bearcat G3. (Credit: Lenco)
Brick Township will also acquire a new high-water emergency rescue vehicle, an addition that was accounted for in this year’s capital budget.
The council unanimously approved the purchase of a Bearcat G3 series vehicle from Lenco Industries, of Massachusetts. The vehicle, derived from the company’s armored security line and based on a Ford F-550 chassis, will be purchased through a national cooperative (Houston-Galveston Area Council) with pre-negotiated discounted pricing. The vehicle costs $362,263.
According to Lenco, the vehicle includes emergency off-road capabilities, seating for 10 to 12 people, all-steel construction as well as an upgraded heavy-duty suspension and increased ground clearance, plus off-road wheels and run-flat tires.
The township first began investing in high-water and more capable off-road vehicles following the blizzard of 2010 and Superstorm Sandy less than two years later. A township woman died after suffering a medical emergency during the blizzard when the snow was too deep for traditional ambulances or rescue vehicles to reach her, and the need for such vehicles became more clear after evacuations were required during the flooding caused by the hurricane. Brick ultimately acquired a number of surplus military transports from federal contracts on a temporary basis, now more than a decade ago.
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