County officials informed locals this week that there had been verified reports of mysterious drone sightings close to Round Valley Reservoir and the Hunterdon County 911 Center in Flemington, New Jersey.
Why the drones were flying close to Clinton’s big reservoir and other county structures is unknown, as is whether or not they are connected to the other enigmatic drone sightings that have been recorded throughout the state this month. However, the sightings are alarming, according to county officials.
Hunterdon County’s director of public safety and coordinator for the Office of Emergency Management, Brayden Fahey, posted a message on the county commissioner’s website stating, “We are taking these sightings seriously and working closely with federal authorities to investigate and address any concerns.”
According to official records, Round Valley is New Jersey’s second-deepest lake and the state’s largest reservoir. At full capacity, it can hold up to 55 billion gallons of water and spans 2,350 acres.
Fred Brown, the sheriff of Hunterdon County, encouraged locals to notify the FBI of any drone sightings.
On Friday, NJ Advance Media was informed by FBI officials that they had no new information.
Residents of New Jersey have been witnessing unexplained drones flying over their houses and neighborhoods at night for a few weeks. In some places, the drones, which occasionally fly in groups, have been seen every night.
In order to ascertain whether the drones are a threat to locals, the FBI, which is spearheading the probe, has sought for public tips.
Gov. Phil Murphy stated in a tweet on Thursday that there is no known harm to the public from drones. Earlier last week, law enforcement authorities in Somerset and Morris counties made similar statements.
One Morris County police chief informed locals earlier this week that local police are putting pressure on state and municipal officials to provide answers regarding the drone sightings that occurred at night.
Drones have been observed flying over vital infrastructure, including water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, train stations, police departments, and military locations, according to a letter given to citizens by Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando on Wednesday.
When asked which reservoirs and locations the drones were seen close to, he did not reply.
Orlando’s warning stated that although there is currently no proof or intelligence to suggest that these drones are an immediate threat, their existence seems sinister.
Following reports of illegal flyovers last month, the FAA has banned drones from using the airspace over Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County.
According to SILive.com, residents of Staten Island also reported spotting drones, particularly close to the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on the flight path to Newark Liberty International Airport.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by representatives of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is in charge of the airport.
You may contact Tina Kelley [email protected].
More in Nation-World News
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!