ASSEMBLYMAN SEAN KEAN PARTICIPATES IN HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EVENT
STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING COASTAL EVACUATION ROUTE 

Assemblyman Sean T. Kean (R-11) took part in a seminar today held in Long Branch to prepare physicians to respond to hurricanes and other natural disasters. Kean, who represents Long Branch and 24 other towns in coastal Monmouth County, welcomed the physicians to the area and spoke about the importance of coastal areas being thoroughly prepared for hurricanes and massive storms.

Assemblyman Kean emphasized that being prepared for major weather emergencies is key to reducing property damage and loss of life.

“If residents in coastal areas are well informed of emergency procedures, they will be better prepared to deal with a situation when it arises,” said Assemblyman Kean.

Kean introduced the keynote speaker of the seminar, Dr. Fred A. Lopez, associate professor and vice chair of Louisiana State University’s Department of Medicine, who worked first-hand with victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Assemblyman Kean maintained that the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina illustrates the need to ensure that coastal evacuation routes in Monmouth County are timely efficient.

“The tragic events of Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the importance of evacuating an area that is being targeted for a storm,” said Assemblyman Sean T. Kean. “Therefore, we need to assess the current coastal evacuation routes in Monmouth County to make sure they are the most efficient. If these routes cannot accommodate the volume of people that will have to travel on them, then we need to develop new and improved routes.”

Furthermore, Assemblyman Kean said he intends to write to Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and request to be named to the Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force which is charged with assessing current evacuation plans and proposing new plans for a coordinated evacuation of coastal communities.

“As a representative of coastal Monmouth County, I think it is important that I serve on the Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force,” remarked Kean. “The communities of Legislative District 11 will be directly impacted by the recommendations made by the Task Force and I want to ensure that their concerns and interests are taken into account.”

Kean maintained that the seminar will better prepare the physicians to treat natural disaster victims and hopes it will draw increased attention to the fact that Monmouth County needs to assess the coastal evacuation routes so that residents are able to leave the area quickly and efficiently.

####