Could Ferries Evacuate Residents Before a Hurricane?
NORTH CAPE MAY — With the anticipation of traffic-choked and possibly flooded roads and a shortage of buses to transport those who cannot drive during a hurricane evacuation, the five vessels of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry could transport 5,000 people from this county. At this point the idea is only a suggestion from the public. Cape May County has no hurricane shelters and everyone must evacuate even in a Category 1 storm. According to Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman James Salmon, if a hurricane was predicted to make landfall, all five ferries, the M.V. Cape Henlopen, M.V. Twin Capes, M.V. Delaware, M.V. New Jersey and M.V. Cape May, would be moved up the Delaware River either to the Port of Philadelphia or Port of Wilmington, Del. but they would be empty of passengers. He said he had not previously heard the suggestion of using the empty ferries to evacuate residents. Salmon said the ferries could be loaded with people but not with cars since there would be no location to off
