Mayor
September 28, 2026
Dear Friends,
I want to thank our community for coming together during the storm, particularly those who stayed in and stayed off the roads. Ocean City has not seen many precedents to the water levels and wind that we saw over so many tide cycles.
The city team is continuing to clean up and assess damage from the storm. All bridges and streets are open, and no further flooding is in the forecast.
We have opened our Shelter Road Recycling Center six days a week for residents to drop off bulk and storm-damaged material. The facility will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Shelter Road is off of Tennessee Avenue, which intersects Bay Avenue near 22nd Street. We are bringing in dumpsters to accept the material. Please be careful driving in this area, which includes playing fields for our students.
Our regular trash and recycling pickup service will operate on a normal schedule, including yard and vegetative waste placed at curbside. The city team will be assisting with these services. Please be patient with curbside pickup and with dropoff at Shelter Road, as volume is expected to be high.
Public Works vehicles are working to clear sand and other material from our streets.
Our police and fire teams did respond to many disabled vehicles and a handful of lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles, and I’m told that remains a risk for any lithium-ion electric vehicle, e-bike, scooter or battery-operated tool submerged in or damaged by salt water. Please be aware of this risk and take precautions to avoid a fire.
Despite our warnings, many people lost vehicles during unnecessary travel. Our police stopped many vehicles during the height of the flooding, and asked those not responding to an emergency to go back home. Driving during these flooding events poses a danger not only to the drivers and their vehicles, but also to properties damaged by their wake. City Council and I will ask our police chief and solicitor to look at the potential of a local ordinance with penalties for reckless driving through floodwaters.
All of our pumping stations throughout town were operational and effective during the storm. Without them, floodwaters of the level we saw this weekend would have taken days to drain. The newly elevated Roosevelt Boulevard remained above the floodwaters and provided a reliable evacuation route during the storm.
The city’s high-water rescue vehicles were a critical resource during the flooding. They responded to fires and medical emergencies throughout the weekend. On Saturday, they were able to transport patients from flooded areas to EMS teams in Upper Township, where we had established a mutual aid agreement.
It’s too preliminary to assess beach erosion, but a team from the NJDEP’s Office of Coastal Engineering was on our beaches today doing post-storm surveys. Thanks in large part to our recent replenishment project, the ocean did not breach our dune system at any point. Without that, damage to property could have been substantial. That’s the intent of the beach replenishment program.
I will continue to update everyone as needed as we move forward together.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
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Welcome to The City of Ocean City, New Jersey!
Ocean City is a town rich in history and a deep sense of community. Families have been vacationing in Ocean City for generations and many have made Ocean City their year-round home.
Our residents enjoy award-winning schools, world-class recreation facilities and outstanding municipal services from all city departments, including Police, Fire and Rescue, and Beach Patrol. Residents participate in activities for every age and interest including the cultural arts, music and theater as well as sports and recreation programs available at our many parks, playgrounds and city facilities. One of our local treasures is the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, where families and individuals can enjoy the Ocean City Free Public Library, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City Historical Museum, Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center, and the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center under one roof.
The city also maintains and operates a municipal airport, 12-hole golf course, Aquatic and Fitness Center as well as the famed Ocean City Pops Orchestra.
Ocean City is also host to more than 200 family-friendly special events held year-round. Many of our events are popular family traditions, including the Night in Venice Boat Parade in July, the Baby Parade in August, our mile-long block parties in May and October, and our family-friendly First Night New Year’s Eve Celebration.
If you are vacationing in Ocean City, I know you’ll enjoy our seven miles of beautiful beaches and exciting Boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants and amusements. And be sure to visit our unique and charming downtown shops and restaurants located in the heart of town on Asbury Avenue.
I am truly proud to serve as mayor for this great community and hope you and your family enjoy your time in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Jay Gillian, Mayor
Phone: 609-525-9333
Email: mayor@ocnj.us
