Community Corner

UPDATE 3PM: Latest Power Outage Numbers, Gas, Polling Locations

Most New Providence residents affected by Sandy should have power back Wednesday, while 90 percent of those affected in Berkeley Heights should have power back Saturday.

Editor's note: To read our updates from Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which may not be included below, click here:
http://patch.com/A-zp55

For instant Hurricane Sandy updates, follow New Providence-Berkeley Heights Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While hundreds of residents in New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside are still without power today, it is Election Day and all polling locations have remained the same with the exception of one in Berkeley Heights.

You can view polling locations in New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside, and information for displaced voters, here: http://patch.com/A-zsP5

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here are the latest outage numbers from the JCP&L power outage map, as of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday. (We've also included the outage numbers from JCP&L, reported at 2:20 p.m. Monday):

  • New Providence — 1,408 (was 1,422)
  • Berkeley Heights — 1,035 (was 1,072)
  • Mountainside — 76 (was 77)

Here are outages numbers in nearby communities as of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday. (We've also included the outage numbers from JCP&L, reported at 2:20 p.m. Monday):

  • Summit — 2,664 (was 3,323)
  • Chatham Township — 2,014 (was 2,334)
  • Chatham Borough — 608 (was 992)
  • Long Hill Township — 1,677 (was 1,677)
  • Springfield — 2,924 (was 3,355)
  • Warren — 2,303 (was 2,719)

According to a chart received from PSE&G, 1,088 Mountainside residents are still without power as of 8 a.m. today.

NEW PROVIDENCE UPDATE

The following information was received from Deputy Chief Scott Torre at 2:50 p.m. today:

Good afternoon all:  

We have spoken with JCP&L and they have advised us they will have crews in town tomorrow to continue with repairs. They do have some concerns with the impending storm and how it might affect their forward progress. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.  

The polls are all open and we are getting great numbers of people out to vote. The polls will remain open until 8pm tonight.  

The gas stations in town had no gas deliveries earlier with many cars waiting for several hours for the Exxon to be re-fueled and open.  

The Exxon on Springfield Avenue has just received a fuel delivery and are currently pumping gas. We are also receiving information that stations west of us (out route 78) and on route 22 are also pumping and have shorter lines, which is something to consider before waiting in line for hours. Today is an even day, cars whose license plate end in an even number can fuel today.  

I am hoping we have better news for you tomorrow.  

Stay safe,  

Scott F. Torre

Deputy Chief of Police

New Providence Police Department

The following information is from the New Providence Office of Emergency Management:

Leaf vacuuming is continuing this week on the East side of New Providence.

In anticipation of the weather event forecast for Wednesday, residents are asked to clear storm drains near their property.

Finally, Halloween Trick-or-Treating is rescheduled to Saturday, Nov. 10 between 12 noon - 5 p.m. The Office of Emergency Management urges extreme caution while trick or treating because there is still much storm debris on the sidewalks and roadways. Please use good judgment in deciding if and where you will trick or treat, especially in areas that remain without power. Do not touch any wires that may be on the ground, as they may be charged by generators operating nearby. Please wear light colored clothing and be sure to cease trick or treating before darkness falls. Watch for cars that may be trying to avoid hazards in the roadways.

The following information was published on the borough's website, newprov.org:

New Providence will provide an additional brush collection this Saturday, November 10, 2012. Residents are asked to bundle and tie their brush (in 4 foot sections) or place the brush in containers for disposal. Brush collection will also continue on Mondays through December 3rd.

In addition, for branches too large to bundle or place in containers, New Providence will begin a removal program to remove the large branches. Residents should place the branches neatly at the curb, where possible cut to lengths of 6’.

The Health Department provided the following updates on Monday:


• The Westfield Regional Health Department will be inspecting food establishments as they open. However, food establishments can open before they are inspected.

• Residents seeking medication refills who are unable to obtain scripts from their MD can bring empty bottles to Berkley Heights Walgreens at 343 Springfield Ave. 908-464-8095 or Springfield CVS at 178 Morris Ave. 973-379-8771. These locations will provide a temporary refill even if not previous clients.

• Residents can call 2-1-1 for any general storm related question. This hotline is being manned as a general hotline 24/7 until further notice. Residents can also use this hotline for any health or public health question as state health department staff will be available on weekdays from 8am—8pm and on weekends from 9am—5pm.

• Any resident looking to apply for Disaster Assistance can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or at www.disasterassistance.gov

• The state has opened a Disaster Mental Health hotline that will be open 24/7 until further notice. This hotline will have mental health professionals available and crisis counselors. That number is 1-877-294-4357.

• Union County has a shelter that is open 24/7 until further notice. This shelter is located at 220 Walnut Ave, Cranford NJ. The contact number is 908-709-7283 ext. 2.

• Currently, the water is safe to drink and is not in danger of being shut off. However, there is a state wide conservation of water in effect. For updates on the water supply residents can “like” the NJ American Water Facebook page.

The following was received from Deputy Chief Scott Torre on Tuesday morning:

Good morning all:  

We have received a request for assistance from the members of the Seaside Heights Police Department whose town has been decimated and members have been working around the clock in unthinkable conditions. The request is for the following items which we will delivered to them on Friday.  

  • Wooly Hats
  • Gloves
  • Thermal Underwear (men's sizes large and XL)
  • Work Boots (men sizes 10-13)

These items will be delivered directly to the first responders in Seaside Heights to assist them in their recovery efforts.   These items may be dropped off to the New Providence Police Headquarters at 360 Elkwood Avenue and labeled Seaside Heights PD.  

Thank you for whatever you can to assist us in getting these much needed items to these brave men and women.  

Scott F. Torre

Deputy Chief of Police

New Providence Police Department

BERKELEY HEIGHTS UPDATE

The following information was received through the township's reverse 9-1-1 phone system on Monday evening:

From Anthony Padovano, Fire Chief and OEM Coordinator —

This afternoon, JCP&L representatives advised that 90 percent of the township will be restored by Saturday, Nov. 10. At this time, JCP&L cannot provide a street-by-street directory as to when power is expected to be restored in your area. Both the mayor and the emergency management staff have done everything remotely possible on our end to assist the power company with restoring power quickly to our township.

We encourage all residents to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly, who may need assistance.

If your electrical service line from the utility pole to your house connection has been damaged, power company officials recommend contacting a licensed electrician to make a damage assessment and repairs to the house side.

As mentioned in earlier notification, Town Hall is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as a warming center and you can charge your cell phone or other electronic devices.

Emergency management staff is monitoring the potential storm system that could affect our area during the week. Updated information will follow as it becomes available.

From Police Chief Michael Mathis —

Many areas of town are very hazardous, even though power has been restored. These dangers are hazardous to anyone walking to and from school as well as the school crossing guards standing at school posts. Therefore, for their safety, there will not be any crossing guards present at the normal school crossing posts for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Although they will not be at their posts, I have relocated them to the schools to assist with the drop off and pick up of students. No one should be walking to and from school because not all areas of town have been identified as safe for pedestrians. Parents should transport or make arrangements to transport students to and from school.

I met with the President of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education this morning to make him aware of all the existing hazards around town.

MOUNTAINSIDE UPDATE

According to a UC First Alert message, the Mountainside PBA 126 dinner dance has been re-scheduled to Friday, Nov. 30.

The following was published on Mountainside Borough's website on Sunday:

To all Mountainside Residents;

While progress has been made in restoring power to some residents, we realize there are still many without.

Again, please check on your neighbors and seniors you know.  Should there be any concern, please call the MPD (908) 232-8100 as we will respond as Welfare Check for the Elderly.

Here are some updates;

*  Please use UCFIRSTALERT and our Borough's Recreation Facebook (Mountainside Recreation Department) for any/all updates.  We do not have access to our Website at this time to post any information.  Although this is not the most ideal outlet for communication, these are our only resources at this time

*  We ask that you remain patient and if you see a PSE&G or JCPL workers, please let them work.  We have been asked to keep them safe and uninterrupted.  If they are distracted it can be very dangerous for them as well as the one distracting them.

*  Debris...any debris that you have pulled from the street or in the right of way, kindly place at the end of your lawns as we will be sending our DPW around with a truck.  Please do not add any debris from your rear or side yards.

*  As per our conference call with the power company this morning, we have been informed that we should be seeing additional progress today.

We will keep you informed as we are notified and can provide you with any new and updated information.

Thank you and be safe.

Mayor and Council


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