AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Such an amazing company with employees who truly care about their business and those they take care of. Caretakers are top notch and customer service is great and they are available whenever you need them.”

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TESTIMONIALS

“I can’t begin to tell to you how pleased I am with Always Best Care. Not only have they placed the perfect caregiver with my mother they also take care of the billing and when I need to speak to a receptionist they are always available. Thank you!!”

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TESTIMONIALS

“I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for helping us find an ideal Assisted Living Facility for my mother. We moved to the city a month ago and had little idea about the local senior living communities. I’d like to thank the highly experienced and knowledgeable caregivers of Always Best Care for helping our family during the difficult time.”

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“Your manager is always nice and flexible, and the caregivers are sweet and wonderful”

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“We are very happy with Always Best Care. They do 24hr care, and the caregiver is excellent. I would recommend them.”

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TESTIMONIALS

“We have hired Always Best Care. We have them for 5 to 6 weeks now. My mother practically does everything herself, but sometimes they might fix her her lunch, there might be a little bit of shopping, and they take her to her appointment. My mother is fine. The hours are fine. She got the hours that she requested. I know she is being billed on her credit card. They have been very helpful and very cooperative. The women always call back.”

Judy367738
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TESTIMONIALS

“We hired Always Best Care two weeks ago for my mom. The woman comes in three days a week to assist my mother with doing the wash, keeping the house picked up, and just talking to her. She’s wonderful. We interviewed several people, and there was just something about the way they were organized in their presentation and their follow up. that impressed us. They were a level above the other ones that we spoke to. They really listen to you about your needs and work very hard to match the caregiver up with what you’re looking for. We were very impressed with them.”

Nancy176801
 In-Home Care Farmingdale, NJ

How does In-home Senior Care in Farmingdale, NJ work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Farmingdale, NJ

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Farmingdale, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Farmingdale, NJ gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Farmingdale, NJ

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Farmingdale,NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Farmingdale, NJ

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Farmingdale, NJ

Delaware & Raritan River Railroad completes track rehab project

Delaware & Raritan River RailroadFARMINGDALE, N.J. — The Delaware & Raritan River Railroad has completed its “F&S Connection,” a 5-mile track rehabilitation project between Freehold and Farmingdale, through Howell, N.J. The project was finished nine months ahead of schedule.DRR ran a test train over the rebuilt track on Sept. 15, 2023, marking the first train to run through between Freehold and Farmingdale since 1985. Regular train service on the line ended with Penn Central in 1975, and will res...

Delaware & Raritan River Railroad

FARMINGDALE, N.J. — The Delaware & Raritan River Railroad has completed its “F&S Connection,” a 5-mile track rehabilitation project between Freehold and Farmingdale, through Howell, N.J. The project was finished nine months ahead of schedule.

DRR ran a test train over the rebuilt track on Sept. 15, 2023, marking the first train to run through between Freehold and Farmingdale since 1985. Regular train service on the line ended with Penn Central in 1975, and will resume early this month.

The project, which links the railroad’s Freehold and Southern branches, began in January 2023 and included vegetation clearing, six upgraded crossings, 25,000 track feet of relayed rail, and 12,500 new ties, including over 8,000 steel ties.

In addition to linking the railroad’s two branches, the project reroutes freight trains off New Jersey Transit’s busy North Jersey Coastline, opens the Southern branch for heavier 286,000-pound cars, consolidates interchange with Conrail Shared Assets at Jamesburg, and provides a shorter and faster route for customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The $12 million project was funded in large part by the New Jersey Department of Transportation Rail Freight Assistance Program, and the state’s grade crossing improvement funds. Work yet to be completed under the project will include the south leg of the Farmingdale Wye, siding construction and rehabilitation, and grade crossing improvements in Freehold, Howell, and Shrewsbury.

Tracks Unlimited of Mountainside and Railroad Construction of Paterson were the low bid contractor’s that provided materials, equipment, administration, design assistance, and agreement labor to rebuild the tracks and crossings.

“This is such a great public/private project with benefits to the community, customers, and railroads alike,” Delaware & Raritan River President Kean Burenga said in a news release. The railroad will mark the completion of the F&S Connection with the driving of the last spike by Farmingdale Mayor Jim Daly and Howell Mayor Theresa Berger near Academy Street Oct. 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include railroad displays, remarks by dignitaries, and live music until 5:00 p.m.

The Delaware & Raritan Freehold Branch was built in 1851 by the Jamesburg & Freehold Agricultural Railroad, from a junction with the Camden & Amboy Railroad (New Jersey’s first railroad) to Sea Girt. In 1871 it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The Southern Branch was built by the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad Company and completed to Lakewood in 1860. It became the Southern Main of the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1879 and was the route of the famous Blue Comet passenger train which operated between Jersey City and Atlantic City.

Delaware & Raritan River Railroad is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake & Delaware LLC. It operates and leases 50 miles of freight trackage in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties from Conrail and New Jersey Transit. Via Conrail Shared Assets the Delaware & Raritan has interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern. Chesapeake & Delaware operates 208 route miles of railroad in New Jersey, including wholly owned Delaware & Raritan River, Dover & Delaware River, and Dover & Rockaway River. Affiliates include Belvidere & Delaware River Railway and Black River & Western Railroad. Chesapeake and Delaware LLC was formed in 2017.

DRR’s first test train running between Freehold and Farmingdale on Sept. 15, 2023.

Requiem for a New Jersey Branch Line

Chesapeake & Delaware LLC (C&D) wholly owned subsidiary Delaware & Raritan River Railroad (DRR) has completed the Freehold & Southern Connection, a five-mile track rehabilitation project reconnecting, after nearly 40 years, Freehold and Farmingdale, N.J., through Howell Twp. A final-spike ceremony took place on Oct. 13 in Farmingdale.Completed nine months ahead of schedule and under budget, the F&S Connection (formally, the Conrail Shared Assets Freehold Industrial Track, which NJ Transit owns) lin...

Chesapeake & Delaware LLC (C&D) wholly owned subsidiary Delaware & Raritan River Railroad (DRR) has completed the Freehold & Southern Connection, a five-mile track rehabilitation project reconnecting, after nearly 40 years, Freehold and Farmingdale, N.J., through Howell Twp. A final-spike ceremony took place on Oct. 13 in Farmingdale.

Completed nine months ahead of schedule and under budget, the F&S Connection (formally, the Conrail Shared Assets Freehold Industrial Track, which NJ Transit owns) links the Railroad’s Freehold and Southern branches in Monmouth County, N.J. Started in January 2023, the $12 million project included 25,000 track-feet of relayed rail and 12,500 new crossties, more than 8,000 of which are environmentally sustainable Narstco steel ties; vegetation clearing; and six upgraded grade crossings.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation Rail Freight Assistance Program and the State’s grade crossing improvement fund helped pay for the project, which, in addition to the five miles of track, included rebuilding of the northern leg of the Farmingdale Wye, the connection to the Conrail Red Bank-Lakewood Southern Branch (which NJT also owns), a former Central Railroad of New Jersey line best known as the route of the famous Jersey City-Atlantic City Blue Comet luxury passenger express train. Accessorial work to be completed will include rebuilding the Farmingdale Wye’s south leg, siding construction and rehabilitation, and grade crossing improvements in Freehold, Howell and Shrewsbury, N.J.

Tracks Unlimited LLC of Mountainside, N.J., and Railroad Construction Co. of Paterson, N.J., provided materials, equipment, administration, design assistance, and agreement labor to rebuild the tracks and crossings.

In addition to linking the DRR’s separate branches into one network, the project reroutes freight trains off New Jersey Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL), opens the Southern branch for heavier 286K railcars, consolidates interchange with Conrail at Jamesburg, and provides a shorter and faster route to rail customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties. In addition to network efficiencies, the rebuilt railroad is expected to attract new rail customers and reduce local truck traffic. DRR operated a test train over the rebuilt track on Sept. 15, marking the first train to run through between Freehold and Farmingdale since 1985. Regular train service on the line ended with the Penn Central in 1975.

DRR leases and operates 50 miles of freight trackage in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties from Conrail and NJ Transit. Via Conrail, it interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern and connects local customers to the North American rail network. Chesapeake & Delaware, formed in 2017, operates 208 route-miles of railroad in New Jersey, serving short line freight customers in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic and Warren Counties. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include DRR, the Dover & Delaware River (DD) and Dover & Rockaway River (DRRV) Rai, and affiliates Belvidere & Delaware River (BDRV), Black River & Western (BRW) and Maryland & Delaware Railroad (MDDE)

There’s a lot of railroad history behind the DRR. The Freehold Branch, built in 1851 by the Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad, connected the Camden & Amboy Railroad—New Jersey’s first railroad—with Sea Girt, on what is now the NJT NJCL. In 1871 it became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. The right-of-way from Sea Girt to Farmingdale is now a biking and walking trail. DRR’s Southern Branch was built by the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad Company and completed to Lakewood in 1860. It became the Southern Main of the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1879. Today, with a branch into Toms River, the line is out of service between Lakehurst and Winslow Junction on NJT’s Atlantic City Line.

C&D President Kean Burenga called the Freehold & Southern Connection “a great public/private project, with benefits to the community, customers and railroads alike.”

“With safer and more direct infrastructure in place, we look forward to working with new and existing customers to grow rail traffic on the Delaware & Raritan,” C&D Executive Vice President Cathrin Banks said. Banks oversees the company’s business development efforts. She is a partner in the firm and previously filled the role of Vice President & General Counsel. Banks is also President of affiliate MDDE.

Tracks Unlimited General Manager Andy Creteau added that the rebuilt connection “is great for commerce and the economy.”

Opening of the F&S Connection closely followed the appointment of Sean Dolan as Vice President & General Manager of Railroads. Dolan joined C&D after retiring from a 32-year career at New Jersey Transit, where he held numerous transportation roles and was most recently Deputy General Manger, responsible for all train operations on the Newark and Hoboken Divisions.

William C. Vantuono photo

Farmingdale Fire Department To Celebrate Building Renovation

FARMINGDALE, NJ — The borough will be buzzing Saturday, and even with a vintage car show and a Halloween Trail planned, there is a stand-out attraction - an open house for the newly renovated Farmingdale Firehouse.Assistant Chief Jim Herrman said the six-month renovation is the first in a three-phase project.But it was an important structural part of the process."We started planning in 2021. There were severe structural issues in an old building, as you can imagine," Herrman said.The original build...

FARMINGDALE, NJ — The borough will be buzzing Saturday, and even with a vintage car show and a Halloween Trail planned, there is a stand-out attraction - an open house for the newly renovated Farmingdale Firehouse.

Assistant Chief Jim Herrman said the six-month renovation is the first in a three-phase project.

But it was an important structural part of the process.

"We started planning in 2021. There were severe structural issues in an old building, as you can imagine," Herrman said.

The original building, located at 54 Main St. and owned by the Borough of Farmingdale, was erected in 1911. The historic cornerstone of the building is visible once again after being plastered over in the 1950s, Herrman said.

The Fire Department made up concept plans and presented them to the Mayor and Council and was then advised about applying for a Monmouth County Community Development Block Grant.

The grant provided $207,000 for the project; the department provided $60,000 through its fundraising and the borough provided $33,000, Herrman said. It was a joint effort through the three funding sources to arrive at $300,000 for the first phase, he added. Estimates for the final two phases are being developed.

And as part of the "reveal," the department will have a grand reopening of the firehouse for the public at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Visitors can tour the space and see the firetrucks. There is even a pumpkin-painting event for kids that is also a fundraiser for the department, Herrman said. You can read more about the department and the event on Facebook.

Also, there is the "Cruisin' Main Street" vintage car show presented by the the Howell Optimist Club and the Borough of Farmingdale. The Recreation Commission's Halloween Trail will also be open all weekend, starting Friday.

The first phase of the work included a steel structural support column added to the front, new siding and new brick facade. There is also new signage and awning.

The floors were redone and epoxy coated, there was new electrical work, exterior lighting, windows, doors and the first-floor walls and stairwell were painted.

The overall effect is fresh and clean - with the fire-engine red doors standing out.

The next phase of the project will be a new roof, Herrman, said and the third phase will renovate the second floor offices of the firehouse. Those projects should start shortly, he said.

The department, led by Chief Robert Lewis, thanked the community on social media for their support - buying T-shirts, playing in and sponsoring a golf outing, and cheering the department on in competitions.

And, as always, volunteers are urged to join the department.

Election 2023 In Farmingdale: Ways To Vote, Who's On The Ballot

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Check out our voter guide as you prepare to cast your ballot in Farmingdale.FARMINGDALE, NJ — The 2023 general election is Nov. 7. Voters will choose local and county government officials, as well as representatives to the state Legislature. Board of Education elections also are taking place.Here's a look at who is on the ballot in Farmingdale, along with your options for voting this year.In Monmouth County, you can either vote at your polling location on Election Day, or ...

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Check out our voter guide as you prepare to cast your ballot in Farmingdale.

FARMINGDALE, NJ — The 2023 general election is Nov. 7. Voters will choose local and county government officials, as well as representatives to the state Legislature. Board of Education elections also are taking place.

Here's a look at who is on the ballot in Farmingdale, along with your options for voting this year.

In Monmouth County, you can either vote at your polling location on Election Day, or you can vote by mail, if you meet the deadlines. You can also vote early at 10 in-person voting sites in the county.

Sample ballots have already been mailed out, but you can check them online here at the Monmouth County Clerk's website, monmouthcountyvotes.com. Just scroll to your municipality.

Voting in person:

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For voting on Nov. 7, visit Monmouth County Votes and scroll down for Election Day voting to your municipality to find your polling location. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For early voting, Monmouth County will have 10 specially designated in-person early voting locations that will be open Saturday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 5. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Voters can go to any one of these locations during the nine-day period to vote. Visit this site to locate all the early voting polling sites.

Voting by mail:

Visit this site for all the information on voting by mail. Monmouth County offers quick tips for voting by mail on its website. Voters can track the return of their mail-in ballot to the Board of Elections via the county’s “Ballot Trax” software. You can click here to sign up for this free notification system.

Voters can drop their voted mail-in ballot into Board of Elections drop boxes anywhere in Monmouth County up until close of polls on Nov. 7. You do not have to be a resident of the town where the drop box is located. Find a list of all drop-off locations here.

Here is who is on the ballot in Farmingdale:

30th Legislative District

State Senate (Vote for one):

General Assembly (Vote for two)

Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners (Vote for two):

Farmingdale Borough Mayor (Full term, vote for one):

Farmingdale Borough Council (Full term, vote for two):

Farmingdale Board of Education (Full term, vote for one):

Freehold Regional Board of Education:

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EPA Making Progress on NJ Mystery Chemical Barrels That Sparked Potential Evac Warning

Mystery barrels leaking in a New Jersey community could take months to contain and remove as environmental crews continue sorting through the hundreds of drums at an abandoned site.A team from the Environmental Protection Agency has been on hand since last month, making their way through more than 400 rusting drums that have, for decades, contained chemicals used to make adhesives and asphalt.In recent years, the hundreds of drums and more than 1,000 smaller containers containing potentially hazardous materials have deteriorate...

Mystery barrels leaking in a New Jersey community could take months to contain and remove as environmental crews continue sorting through the hundreds of drums at an abandoned site.

A team from the Environmental Protection Agency has been on hand since last month, making their way through more than 400 rusting drums that have, for decades, contained chemicals used to make adhesives and asphalt.

In recent years, the hundreds of drums and more than 1,000 smaller containers containing potentially hazardous materials have deteriorated, leading to a potentially dangerous outcome for neighbors. Last month, schools and homeowners in Monmouth County were told to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.

Many of the drums at the former Farmingdale industrial plant, which borders Howell, were found to be leaking, rusting and bulging. The plant has long been shut down, but the barrels stuck around.

A spokesperson for the EPA said "significant progress" has been made in securing the drums, but none of the chemicals have been removed from the site. The disposal process will take some time as teams continue identifying what is inside the barrels and determine the best course of removal.

One nearby resident told NBC New York that she remembers decades ago when her children were coming home from school around lunchtime, and they saw the lids exploding, up in the air.

That kind of thing is still entirely possible at the site, because no one knows for sure what chemicals are still present.

Earlier in 2023, the new owner was burning some barrels in an old incinerator on the property, when the fumes and particulate pollution drifted into nearby neighborhoods, alarming first responders who rushed to put the fire out.

When Eric Daly, the on-scene coordinator for the EPA, was asked about those exploding lids 40 years ago, he said "You’re basically proving the reason we’re taking our time with this."

With some 4,000 students going to school within the one-mile hot zone that reaches into Howell, residents are urged to have a go-pack for an evacuation that could be called at any time if the chemicals catch on fire.

"Everybody should have an evacuation plan or get-out-of-here plan just in case," said Howell-Farmingdale OEM Director Victor Cook.

That being said, the EPA does feel it has the situation under as much control as it can without knowing what’s on the site. The agency hopes everything can be hauled away by the end of summer or shortly thereafter. Then it will have to deal with whatever pollution it finds in the soil and possibly in the groundwater.

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