Lightning Detector Signs Going Up in Seaside Park, Hours of Monitoring Still Being Debated

A sign advising beachgoers of Toms River’s lightning detection system at a beach entrance in Ortley Beach. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Residents of Seaside Park – and visitors to the beach next summer – will be seeing informational signage intended to educate them on the workings of the borough’s lightning detection system.

Seaside Park installed a lightning detection system last summer – the latest local town to do so – and this year will unveil the signage that informs visitors as to what sounds or flashing lights from the detector array mean. Such signage is already installed in some other towns, and in Seaside Park, the borough’s recreation committee helped with the design. Borough Attorney Steven Zabarsky suggested adding symbology in the form of the universal “lightning strike symbol” in a shaded triangle that should catch the attention of passersby.

The lightning detection system uses an internal antenna system as well as digital data to detect lightning strikes up to 10 miles away, and alert both emergency responders and the general public if there appears to be any danger. Lifeguards will close the beaches for at least 30 minutes if the system detects lightning in the area, and the pole-mounted system flashes a yellow light and emits an alert tone. The sign will explain the alerts.

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“It brings more attention that we have it and that is exists,” said Councilwoman Gina Condos. “But can we consider again, as we go into the next season, keeping it during operating hours? At least during the beach season, we should keep them on since we have a lot of after-hours activity. There’s kite night, fishing tournaments before the beach open, all kinds of things like that.”

A lightning detection sensor array in Ortley Beach, May 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

A lightning detection sensor array in Brick Township, May 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Last summer, the hours of operation for the detection system led to some debate. Zabarsky said a protocol document required by the borough’s insurance carrier dictated a specific policy which states a person must be on call to monitor the system at all times it is active. But some officials and residents said the detection system is most valuable when there aren’t lifeguards actively on duty to remove people from the water. Still other residents voiced concerns about the alert tone going off at late hours, while others countered that the system should be live year-round since there are plenty of people on the beach fishing, surfing and walking at all times.

“Right now it turns off at 8 p.m.,” said Condos. “There are other noises out there and I don’t think it’s obtrusive to anybody as long as its not after a reasonable bedtime. The likelihood of these lightning storms during the off-season is low, but in-season, the longer the better.”

“I feel the same way as you do,” said Councilman Joseph Connor. “We have to expand the times a little bit from what we had last year. ”

Borough Administrator Karen Kroon said the system is on all winter, but the alert tones and lights are off. Lightning storms are rare during the winter, which is a factor as to whether the system should be actively alerting all the time.

“At the end of the winter, we will gather all that data and try to zero-in on the dates and times,” said Kroon.