Police State In the Atlantic City Area...

[PCIntern]

Last edited Thu Nov 1, 2012, 03:18 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20121031_At_causeway_to_Margate_Bridge__residents_fume.html

Because I can't manage my iPad well, it is hard for me to cut and paste the requisite four paragraphs, so I'll tell you the gist of my problem here...
I can't go down to Ventnor, NJ to see my property and to figure out with an adjuster what needs to be done before the place explodes with mold. If I could rip some stuff out, it would save money and objects, but it is well- nigh impossible at this point...better and more connected people than I can't get in. Read the article and you'll get an idea of what a police state would look like and for no obvious reason. All these people have ID and are residents.

Oh well...it's not a total loss, but it's a lot of money paid out by FEMA for no reason.

[MADem]

1. Four paragraphs.

It seemed that a de facto police state had descended on Absecon Island overnight, one that yielded to nobody - except some doctors, radio DJs, media, contractors, and people with friends in law enforcement who were waved past fuming residents at the Margate Bridge in Northfield.

Residents who had stayed could leave the island but not return. With no stores open and power out for most, they were unable to go for doctors' appointments, to jobs, to get gas for generators, for medical supplies, food, and coffee, to check on businesses or get pumps for their flooded basements.

They were stopped by sheriff's deputies at checkpoints set up on the borders between towns on the island. Tuesday night, four homeland security officers - dressed in elaborate water rescue gear - went door to door ordering people to leave, taking inventory and noting who was left, telling them power would not return for weeks....

Late in the day Wednesday, Ventnor City issued a statement saying access would be restricted as a matter of public safety. Officials said they were worried about overwhelming a sewage system running on generators. But there was still no explanation for why people who were already here could not simply leave and return....

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20121031_At_causeway_to_Margate_Bridge__residents_fume.html

[PCIntern]

9. Thanks...still getting used to the iPad machinery. Nt

[MADem]

11. I have a friend with one of those puppies!

I feel your pain--I fiddled with it, did all the touch-screening and farting around, and I was all at sea. I do hear that it gets easier if you stick with it.

I know those will be the paradigm in future, but I'm not going to be adapting early...I'll face the music when I have to!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. What you have is miscomunication between agencies

May I recommend something? Call your local civil officials. The mayor has to have a laison for this.

FYI what they are trying to keep out is looters, but your drivers licence should be enough to show "you belong."

If they want to get annal, liability and all that, signing a release shoud be enough.

[Tigress DEM]

3. Probably some rich folk in the area told the police chief to keep the riff raff out.

I'd escalate up to FEMA and tell them what is happening.

Obviously they don't want people to get hurt trying to get into homes too soon that might not be safe, but to start pumping out water, hopefully there is some safe place it can go should be allowed.

[MADem]

12. I thought they didn't want people running water/flushing because the water system is still on

generator power....

People might be inclined to be mixing water and bleach to get after that mold....

[Michigan Alum]

4. That's typical after a hurricane. They don't want people breaking in to places that are empty.

I don't know why they don't let you in if you can prove you live there, though. I'm a Floridian and that's what they do here too.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

7. I'm in Oklahoma and it happens here

We've seen it with wildfires and tornadoes. Nobody in or out until the authorities get a handle on the damage and go house to house for survivors.

Ive seen tornado victims kept away from their homes for days and in some cases a week if the damage is catastrophic. Wildfires are similar because of the risk of rekindling.

[Michigan Alum]

5. Sorry for your property being hit. Hope it's ok. They should have warned you when you left.

I never leave during hurricanes because of that and because of my pets.

[loli phabay]

6. i think its culture shock. its standard op to keep people out of a disaster area

Especially if the infrastructure is gone or there is still danger.

[bhikkhu]

8. Structural problems, hazards you wouldn't recognize, looting, but perhaps what the article says -

disease - might be the main thing.

Most people these days worry very little about raw sewage, as it is all taken care of for us when the infrastructure is operable. It goes downhill very quickly, and diseases can become endemic very rapidly, when sanitation is a problem.

Millions still die every year in parts of the world that don't have sanitary facilities, and that's in areas where people are accustomed to the dangers.

[BainsBane]

10. disasters are magnets for criminals

Which is why police keep non-residents from entering storm damaged areas. If the reports in that article are accurate, they are taking it to far. As the poster from Florida noted, you can generally pass through if you have proof you live in the area but not if you don't. Most people are glad such protection exists during such times. Such situations can be very dangerous, whether from theft, vandalism, scam artists posing as rescue workers, rape, or other violent crimes.

[ananda]

13. For the iPad

You cut and paste by pressing on the text till the paste select copy box comes up. But first you slide the little blue circles on the text to make the desired part all blue. Then you hit copy, go to the place where you want to move it, place your cursor, and hit paste. Works like a charm.

[Corgigal]

14. My daughter just got to her 2nd floor apt

yesterday in North Wildwood New Jersey and before she could get out of the car a cop and another man approached her to make sure she lived there. Then they stood by to make sure everything was ok for her and the boyfriend to get into the apt and see if they needed anything. I think this is just how it's done right now. Cops are damned if they do because it a police state or if they don't and a criminal element takes over then they didn't do their jobs.

They are being directed to respond the way they are for a reason. Same thing happened after Hugo here and people were fighting with the national guard to get back on the islands to see their property but they wouldn't let them in. Also they might want to be sure you don't step into some electrical problem and puff you go. Try to give it a bit more time and I'm sure they will allow people in.