For emergency response, Woodbine, Ocean View not in Upper Township
UPPER TOWNSHIP – The Upper Township Chiefs’ Association is made up of the chiefs and deputy chiefs from the Upper Township Division of EMS, Upper Township Rescue Squad, Marmora Volunteer Fire Company, Seaville Fire and Rescue, Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company, Tuckahoe Volunteer Fire Company and the Upper Township Office of Emergency Management.
Our mission is to foster cooperation among the agencies listed above for the purpose of providing the highest level of public safety services to all residents and visitors of Upper Township. We also arrange for cooperative agreements with agencies outside of Upper Township to the same end.
We, the Upper Township Chiefs’ Association in partnership with Ocean City Communications, which provides dispatch services to Upper Township, are proud of our record for delivering emergency resources quickly and efficiently to those who need them most. Over the past several years, it has become apparent that there are misunderstandings among the public in reference to the towns and villages that exist in Upper Township. This confusion has led to several incidents that have seen a delay in responses of emergency resources for the sole reason that the person who dialed 911 provided incorrect location information, usually the city they are in. In an effort to prevent this confusion in the future and settle common misconceptions, please note the following:
1. There is NO OCEAN VIEW in Upper Township
2. There is NO WOODBINE in Upper Township
Despite what your mail might read, if you live in Upper Township, you do NOT live in Ocean View or Woodbine as far as emergency responders are concerned. Over the past several years, there have been incidents in which the activation of emergency responders has been delayed due to people making emergency calls insisting that they live in Ocean View or Woodbine when in reality, they actually live in Seaville or Petersburg, for example. Reporting that you are in Ocean View when you are actually in Seaville will most likely trigger the dispatch and response of the incorrect units from much farther away, delaying the help you need.
The 10 towns/villages that make up the township are as follows: Beesleys Point, Marmora, Palermo, Seaville, Greenfield, Petersburg, Tuckahoe, Marshallville, Steelmantown, Strathmere. If you ever do need to call 911 while in Upper Township and are unsure of exactly what town you are in, make sure to mention that you are in Upper Township so the correct emergency responders will be dispatched to you.
The Upper Township Chiefs’ Association in conjunction with The Upper Township Committee has and will continue to work to resolve this issue.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and help us help you!
– The Upper Township Chiefs’ Association
