Town by Town recovery updates – Times Herald-Record

The number of Sussex County residents without power continues to slowly be restored, from nearly 33,000 on Tuesday evening, to just below 16,000 on Wednesday evening.

According to JCP&L, the restoration estimate for the majority of JCP&L customers, 11:30 p.m. today; and Sussex Rural Electric, today and Friday.

During the daytime Wednesday, the number of individuals with and without power alternatively fell and climbed back up, then fell again, according to JCP&L outage figures. On Wednesday afternoon, the total number of JCP&L and Sussex Rural Electric customers without power hovered at approximately 23,000.

On Wednesday, Sussex Rural Electric described its process as slow but positive; with some of the largest outage areas of groups of 200 to 300 residents, the priorities.

Part of the trend of the rise and fall in power outages was contributed to newly-fallen trees, even 36 hours after the snow had stopped. Within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, National Park Service employees are working to clear trees and plow roads in much of the park south of Layton. Old Mine Road from Route 80 North is essentially closed from fallen trees. A park official said that because the ground is not frozen, the weight of the storms snow and ice is causing many more trees to uproot.

Sussex County

Throughout the day Wednesday, Office of Emergency Management representatives, continued to monitor conditions around-the-clock at both the county and municipal levels.

Additionally local and county officials mobilized shelters and charging and warming stations, which will continue to be open as needed today, maintained in conjunction between the Sussex County Sheriffs Office and American Red Cross. The overnight shelter in the Sussex County Technical Schools McNeice Auditorium became a pet-friendly facility on Wednesday, with pets outside of service animals permitted in designated areas.

We want people to know were here for them, said Diane Concannon, American Red Cross communications director.

Concannon said the Red Cross would be serving breakfast for guests, as well as those without power who would like a meal, after 8 a.m. this morning.

The overnight shelter and meals at designated locations will continue today if needed. Concannon also said those who are in need of warmth, coffee, snacks and to charge their devices are invited to come to the McNeice Auditorium.

On Tuesday night, the overnight shelter hosted eight guests; and Concannon anticipated more on Wednesday night.

A shelter in Vernons Senior Center at 21 Church Street, also remained open Wednesday and will continue to be maintained, until no longer necessary.

Andover Borough

With many of the residents without power since 4:30 p.m. Monday, as of Wednesday evening, approximately 25 percent of the borough was without power.

The borough opened its Andover Borough Park/Community Center/Senior Center building located on 8 Tranquility Road as a charging and warming station for area residents, which will remain open as needed.

Andover Township

With more than 83 percent of its residents without power as of Wednesday evening, Andover Township maintained the Hillside House in Hillside Park, across from the Andover Township Police Department on Lake Iliff Road as a warming station. This location will be open as needed. Access is available from Limecrest Road to Lake Iliff Road.

The Andover Township Municipal Building will also remain available as a warming and charging station as needed, during regular business hours at 134 Newton Sparta Road.

Clean up continues on roadways, such as Goodale Road, which was littered with fallen tree limbs and sticks, as well as trees sitting on power lines.

In lieu of a warming station at the Andover Township Firehouse as originally planned, Danielson said Tuesday the municipal building, as well as the Hillside House, were set up as warming locations. Andover Boroughs Senior Center became another warming location that Andover Township residents could also use.

Branchville

Four percent of Branchville residents were without power, according to JCP&L, on Wednesday evening, one of the municipalities with the fewest number of residents left without power.

Byram

The Byram Township Municipal Building meeting room will remain open around the clock as a warming and charging station, until it is no longer needed, according to a Nixle alert sent by the township on Wednesday afternoon.

The township has remained in constant communications with the residents via Nixle, with updates.

Byram dropped to 3 percent of its residents without power, as of Wednesday evening.

Frankford

Slightly more than 10 percent of Frankford residents who are JCP&L customers, were without power on Wednesday evening. This is a decline from Tuesday night when the municipality was at 22 percent. Frankford Township shared on its Facebook Page on Wednesday afternoon that Longbridge Road was the only one that remained closed as of Wednesday and commended the efforts of its DPW.

As of Wednesday evening, there were 65 Sussex Rural Electric members from Frankford without power, which was a slight increase from 63 on Tuesday evening.

The Sussex County Main Library was open as a charging and warming station, as well as an internet location on Wednesday, at 125 Morris Turnpike. The library hours today are from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Franklin

Franklin has experienced a drop from more than 42 percent without power on Tuesday night, to slightly less than 15 percent on Wednesday evening.

Franklins library was originally set as a warming station on Wednesday, but was without power. The Franklin Fire Department at 137 Buckwheat Road is open as needed for a warming and charging location, where individuals can call ahead if they need a place to warm up.

Fredon

As of Wednesday evening, slightly over 36 percent of Fredons residents were without power - a drop from Tuesday night when 81 percent of the 1,352 residents were without power.

On Wednesday, the township reminded residents on its website and via email blast that if a power line detaches from a pole, JCP&L will repair it, but if the line detaches from a home, it is up to a resident to have an electrician repair the line, before power can be restored.

Fredons school was open on Wednesday for families to warm up, charge their devices, use the guest Wi-Fi and for children to enjoy a movie.

The school called a two-hour delay on Wednesday evening.

Green

After the majority of Green was without power on Tuesday evening, that number dropped to slightly over 37 percent on Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, OEM Coordinator Mike Rose said that the efforts were directed to working on restoring power at the Green Hills School, which was without power and has no back-up generator system.

Rose said Wednesday evening that the power in the school was restored in the afternoon, though it was lost again for three hours, but then was back on. He said that it would take approximately eight hours to re-heat the building.

Dependent on directives from interim superintendent Lydia Furnari and if the power is maintained, Rose said the school may or may not be reopened today.

It will also be dependent on road closures, though many of the main roadways have been reopened, he said. While Route 517 between Kennedy Road and Old Hackettstown Road is still closed due to a downed pole; and between Airport Road and Lakeview Terrace because of multiple wires, Rose said the clean-up is moving quickly.

Rose said it is yet to be determined if the warming and charging center will be re-opened today at the Green Township Fire Department, though he said he believes it will be unlikely, based on the amount of power restorations.

Hamburg

As of Wednesday evening, the majority of Hamburg JCP&L customers were restored, with slightly over 7 percent without power. On Tuesday evening, over 50 percent of the residents were without electricity.

Hampton

The restoration process continued in Hampton, with slightly over 17 percent of the residents without power on Wednesday evening, versus 55 percent on Tuesday.

Hardyston

There were two warming stations in Hardyston on Wednesday, which will be maintained if needed. The first was at the Sussex County YMCA at 15 Wits End Road - those who enter over the age of 18, will be required to provide government-issued identification.

The other warming station was the Hardyston Township Municipal Building at 149 Wheatsworth Road which will be open until 4:30 p.m. as a warming and charging location, if needed.

Hardyston residents without power has declined from 34 percent on Tuesday evening to 12 percent on Wednesday evening. There were 135 Sussex Rural Electric members still without power in Hardyston on Wednesday evening.

Hopatcong

Only 28 residents of the close to 6,700 in Hopatcong remain without power, with expected full restoration by 6 p.m. today, according to JCP&L Wednesday evening.

For residents who needed heat and device charging, as well as internet, the The E. Louise Childs Library on 21 Stanhope Sparta Road was open. The location will reopen today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lafayette

Close to half of Lafayettes JCP&L customers were without power, including Lafayettes Municipal Building as of Wednesday night. According to Township Committeeman Rick Hughes, JCP&L incorrectly identified the building as having its power restored on Wednesday.

If power is restored overnight, Hughes said the building will reopen today. On Wednesday, Hughes said employees were in the building for a brief period; and temporary heaters were set up in the building.

Hughes also said he was on the phone with the townships JCP&L representative with a priority medical need with a resident, who was without power; and cannot stay in a shelter.

Beaver Run Road and the end of Morris Farm Road by Route 94 were still closed as of Wednesday evening, Hughes said.

In Lafayette, 220 Sussex Rural Electric members were without power on Wednesday evening.

Montague

Montague experienced a dramatic rise in power restoration, with less than 7 percent of customers requiring restoration on Wednesday night. On Tuesday night, close to all of the JCP&L customers were without power.

Only one Sussex Rural Electric member remained without power on Wednesday evening.

Newton

Slightly over 17 percent of Newton residents were remaining without power on Wednesday night.

The Newton Town Hall at 39 Trinity St. will be open today until 5 p.m. as a warming and charging location; and individuals can additionally use the buildings WiFi. The town hall and Dennis Library, which has remained a warming station, were also used on Wednesday. The library, located at 101 Main Street, will be open again from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ogdensburg

Ogdensburg made strides in power restoration on Wednesday evening, with over 53 percent of residents without power. On Tuesday, there were 99 percent of the residents.

According to the boroughs Facebook Page on Wednesday night, some power outages may occur again, as power is continually restored.

Sandyston

Sandyston has additionally experienced progress with only 54 percent of the residents remaining without power on Wednesday evening, versus nearly all of the residents on Tuesday evening.

Sparta

As the power restorations climbed and then fell again, about 37 percent of Sparta residents were still without power as of Wednesday night.

Sparta maintained its warming centers into the night on Wednesday at the Police Department, as well as the library and Senior Center. Sparta High School also opened a warming center with showers available, as well as microwaves, to residents.

The shelter set up by the Red Cross and Sussex County Sheriffs Office is at the Sussex County Technical School in Sparta, located at 105 North Church Road.

Further updates will be made available on the Sparta Police Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/sparta.police/ and Sparta Municipal Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/SpartaTownship/.

Stanhope

Less than five Stanhope residents remained without power on Wednesday night.

Stillwater

Stillwater made progress in its power restoration, with approximately 39 percent of the residents without power on Wednesday evening, versus more than 93 percent on Tuesday.

The Stillwater School announced a delayed opening for Thursday morning.

Sussex

Sussex Borough had a slight increase in residents without power on Wednesday evening, at over 12 percent, versus slightly more than 7 percent on Tuesday night.

Vernon

Vernon Township has made strides in its power restoration, with 465 JCP&L customers left on Wednesday evening, versus 995 on Tuesday. There were 2,215 Sussex Rural Electric members on Wednesday evening, versus 4,519 on Tuesday.

In addition to the shelter at the Senior Center on Wednesday, Mayor Harry Shortway said a water buffalo is in place behind the municipal building, available 24 around the clock for residents.

Walpack

Nearly 95 percent of Walpack has remained without power, with full restoration expected by 11:30 tonight.

Wantage

Wantage had 17 percent of its JCP&L customers without power on Wednesday evening and 884 from Sussex Rural Electric.

Sussex-Wantage Regional Schools announced on Wednesday evening it would have a delayed opening.

Read more:
Town by Town recovery updates - Times Herald-Record