Cape May County Urges Residents to Prepare as Drought and Hurricane Season Raise Risks

COURT HOUSE, N.J. —  With much of New Jersey, including Cape May County, under a drought warning and hurricane season underway, local officials are urging residents and visitors to stay alert and prepare for emergencies. The county Office of Emergency Management (OEM) regularly tests response plans, running drills that cover evacuations, active shooter scenarios, power outages, and storm responses. These exercises involve multiple agencies to ensure coordination during real emergencies.
Officials emphasize that preparation is a shared responsibility. People are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts, know evacuation routes, and have a “go bag” ready with essentials such as water, food, medication, important documents, and pet supplies. Early planning and staying connected to official updates are critical for safety during hurricanes or other emergencies. Cape May County’s population spikes in summer, swelling from about 94,000 year-round residents to nearly 764,000 seasonal visitors.
Traffic volumes vary widely, especially on key evacuation routes like the Garden State Parkway, which can complicate emergency responses and require detours on secondary roads. Roughly half of the county’s 183,000 acres are forested, increasing wildfire risk during dry conditions. Local fire coordinators work closely with the state Forest Fire Service to identify high-risk zones, staging areas, and water sources. When wildfires occur, command is passed to the Forest Fire Service, supported by county resources and mutual aid Emergency planning also focuses on recovery efforts, with designated centers prepared to assist residents after incidents. Flood-prone areas are under review for updated mitigation plans. Cape May County recently renewed its StormReady certification, demonstrating compliance with standards in communication, monitoring, warning dissemination, and community preparedness.