News Flash

August 5, 2020 - noon

DPW is working to clear roads and debris.  JCP&L is working to restore power.  PSE&G is working to restore gas.  More updates to follow as available.  Please do your best to be patient as the damage is widespread.

JCP&L Update as of noon:  Ice & Water Available for those in need:
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) continues to restore service to customers who lost power and has activated a retail water and ice program.  For those customers remaining without power for 24 hours or more, JCP&L is offering free water and ice at the following locations beginning 8/5/20 at 10am locally at these nearby locations:  

·        ACME, 1260 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, Union County
·        Kings, 393 Main Street, Chatham, Morris County  
·        Shop Rite of Chatham, 641 Shunpike Rd / Southern Blvd, Chatham, Morris  County
·        Kings, 977 Valley Rd, Gillette, Morris County
·        Shop Rite of Millburn, 220 Main Street, Millburn, Essex County
·        Kings, 778 Morris Tpke, Short Hills, Essex County
·        Shop Rite of Springfield, 727 Morris Tpke, Springfield, Union
·        Shop Rite, 1153 Valley Road, Stirling, Morris County
·        Kings, 784 Springfield Ave, Summit, Union County
·        Kings, 64 Mt. Blvd Brady Shopping Center, Warren, Somerset County 

PSE&G UPDATE as of 8:00 AM

• As of 10:00 a.m., approximately 575,000 of our 2.3 million customers reported a power outage or damage associated with Tropical Storm Isaias. We have restored power to 275,000 customers and have less than 300,000 customers still without power.
• As of 7 a.m. Wed, we have close to 700 critical facilities still without power – that’s hospitals, police/fire/ambulance, gas stations, transit systems, supermarkets, nursing homes – other utilities –water and sewage companies.  
• As damage assessment continues, PSE&G believes that Isaias is among the strongest storms to hit our service territory in recent years, and that some outages could last for an extended period. 
• The estimated times for restoration customers see in the outage map are based on a number of factors including damage assessment, weather hazards and road conditions. As individual jobs are completed, work plans are optimized and restoration times are adjusted. Some times more than one repair is need to restore a customer’s service. If customers are signed up to receive alerts, they will receive an automatic update about the change.  
• PSE&G is working as safely and quickly as possible to restore power, and has nearly 2,800 workers dedicated to restoration. Through mutual aid resources, we have requested 1,700 workers to repair damage – from 15 states and as far away as Canada. 
• In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have adapted our storm and safety procedures to follow public health guidelines and industry best practices. We thank our customers for their patience as we operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible. There may be delays for some repairs due to the new health and safety procedures in response to the current health crisis. 

• PSE&G is setting up several Customer Comfort Stations. Following physical distancing and state health guidelines, customers can receive free water and ice. We ask that everyone wear masks or face coverings and remain physically distant. Location and hours of operations will be shared directly with customers and on PSEG on Facebook and Twitter @PSEGdelivers. 

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  PSE&G encourage customers to stay connected with us throughout the restoration process. Receive status updates, updated estimated time of restoration or report a new outage: 

  
  

  • Mobile app for Apple or Android devices
  • Customer Service 1-800-436-PSEG
  • Outagecenter.pseg.com, “Outage Map,” updated every 15 minutes 
  • Text “REG” to 47734 to receive text notifications

• Important safety notes:

  • Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines and immediately call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or 911 to report downed wires.
  • To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
  • If you are on life-sustaining medical equipment, ensure that you alert PSE&G in advance and notify your local police and fire departments. For more information, visit www.pseg.com/life.

AUGUST 5, 2020

POST STORM BRANCH PICK UP INFO: August 5, 2020

Please be advised the Township is scheduling a special post-storm branch pick up in the near future as we clean up and restore our neighborhoods. Work will be performed by section.

The DPW will begin branch pick up upon power being restored to allow residents ample time to clean their properties.

Information will be available on the Township website, Facebook page and through the Communications Committee. Mayor Devanney will also schedule an automated call with specifics for those not online.

Please stay safe.

AUGUST 4, 2020

New Jersey entered a state of emergency Tuesday, as the state braces for Tropical Storm Isaias. The Jersey Shore is expected to see torrential downpours and strong winds that could lead to coastal flooding and widespread power outages.

From our Berkeley Heights Office of Emergency Management:

• A Tropical Storm Warning, and a Flash Flood Watch is in effect.
• Tropical storm force winds expected, 45 – 55 MPH sustained winds with 70 MPH gusts possible.  
• Most likely arrival of winds is Tuesday afternoon, but could be as early as Tuesday morning.
• Rainfall amounts 2” to 4”, locally higher amounts possible, up to 6”.
• The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Union County until 4:00 p.m. today.

Berkeley Heights first responders are all preparing to respond to any emergency; Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad has members ready on standby, in addition to their regular on-call members. 

Remember: please call JCP&L directly with any power outages. During severe weather, customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link on [www.firstenergycorp.com] www.firstenergycorp.com. Customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be exercised in areas where downed wires may be tangled in downed tree branches or other debris.

Bring items inside that may blown away. Charge your devices. And please stay safe!

TRACKING ISAIAS: Check the latest forecast and weather alerts

From JCP&L:

• FirstEnergy Corp. utility personnel are prepared to respond quickly to restore power to customers should Tropical Storm Isaias impact the areas where the company provides electric service.

Company meteorologists are tracking the storm system, which is forecast to move up the east coast into New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, with the possibility of producing heavy rain and very strong, sustained winds across the Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) and Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed) service territories throughout the day Tuesday. The companies have established storm response plans, which include staffing additional dispatchers, damage assessors and analysts at regional dispatch offices, and arranging to bring in additional line, substation and forestry personnel, as needed, based on the severity of the weather.

JCP&L has secured additional resources to assist in the areas expected to be impacted in the coming days and is setting up staging sites in N.J. In addition, FirstEnergy has coordinated with contractors and electric industry mutual assistance organizations to secure additional resources to assist with storm restoration efforts should they be needed.  Met-Ed line crews will be assisted by contractors who are currently working on transmission and distribution projects across its service area. As the Tropical Storm path becomes more certain, FirstEnergy utilities will continue mobilizing resources to provide support to all expected storm impact areas.

Company representatives also have been in contact with emergency management officials, state officials, regulators, and local officials about Tropical Storm Isaias preparation efforts.
During severe weather, customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link on [www.firstenergycorp.com] www.firstenergycorp.com. Customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be exercised in areas where downed wires may be tangled in downed tree branches or other debris.

For updated information on the company’s current outages, FirstEnergy’s storm restoration process, and tips for staying safe, visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

FirstEnergy encourages customers to plan ahead for the possibility of electric service interruptions by following these tips:

• Keep flashlights and fresh batteries in your home. Avoid using candles to light your home, especially around children and pets.  
• If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.
• Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking.
• Have a hard-wired telephone or a charged cell phone handy in the event you need to report your electricity is out. Mobile phones can be charged in your vehicle using a car charger when the power is out.  
• Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person.  
• Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or other open-flame heat sources indoors. These can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home.  
• Keep a battery-powered radio with extra batteries on hand. Tune to a local station for current storm information.

Customer Generators
Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service. However, to ensure the safety of the home’s occupants as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.

FirstEnergy customers also can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive weather alerts in advance of major storms, and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts, and make other inquiries about their electric accounts. More information about these communication tools is available online at [www.firstenergycorp.com/connect]www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.  

From PSE&G: