PRESS RELEASE July 16, 2014 On July 14, 2014, at approximately 7:52pm, the City of Burlington Police Department was dispatched to the area of the Delaware River for a report of four (4) boaters stranded on the island during the thunderstorm that was producing very dangerous conditions. With dangerous conditions including numerous lightning strikes, emergency personnel including the City of Burlington Fire Department, Bucks County Emergency Services, Office of Emergency Management, and the New Jersey State Police were unable to reach the stranded people on the island until conditions improved. All four (4) people were rescued by emergency crews approximately one hour later and transported back to land. No injuries were reported during this incident. The City of Burlington Police Department urges the public not to seek refuge on Burlington Island during severe storms or go onto the island for any recreational purpose. If there is a need to go onto the island, there is a process through the City of Burlington Administration, in which proper documentation must be supplied along with City approvals to be obtained before going onto the island. The mayor signed Executive Order 2012-01 banning any recreational use on the island in order to address numerous safety concerns that the City of Burlington has due to island’s current conditions. This incident of the stranded civilians on the island during this very dangerous storm on July 14th is an example that if in the event of a life-threatening emergency, a delay in care or response due to the island being inaccessible may cause further injury or even death. These grave concerns are shared by not only the local government, but also from the Police, Fire, Office of Emergency Management, and Emergency Medical Services that operate in the City of Burlington.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:42:06 +0000
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