file photo by Boyd Loving
Office of Emergency Management : HURRICANE SANDY UPDATE – NOV. 6 – 3:00 PM
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G Update: PSE&G crews continue to make progress restoring power throughout the Village. Power has been restored through many areas of town, but clearly, there are still too many homes without power. PSE&G’s progress has been too slow, with too few crews, and the progress is no comfort to those who still have no power. Moreover, much of the information coming from PSE&G has been inaccurate. As stated by Mayor Aronsohn in his recent public statements, village officials continue to relentlessly press PSE&G for more help. Residents are urged to contact PSE&G directly at 1-800-436-7734 to report individual problems. Calling repeatedly may help.
Nor’easter Expected Wednesday: A nor’easter storm is expected to impact the area Wednesday into Thursday. In additional to rain and some snow, the storm may bring potentially damaging winds from Wednesday morning through late Wednesday night. Winds of this magnitude will be capable of producing downed trees and power lines. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for our area. Residents should expect the possibility of additional power outages, downed trees and power lines, and delays in ongoing power restoration efforts. Make plans now, and stay informed.
24-Hour Shelter at Mt. Carmel: Mt. Carmel Church is still hosting a 24-hour shelter for residents without power, and has graciously agreed to stay open for the duration of the power outage. They have space for residents to spend the night, and plan to serve hot meals. Please bring your own blankets and pillows. Bergen County’s Shelter in Mahwah is also available. It is located at 281 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ.
Day Time Warming Center: St. Elizabeth’s Church will be open as a warming center Monday – Friday 8:30 AM-6:00 PM. Emmanuel Baptist Church will also be open as a warming center Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please enter by the Hope Street entrance and use the bell on the left hand side of the door.
Blankets: A limited number of blankets, provided by FEMA, are available on a first come, first served basis at Village Hall. Any resident needing an extra blanket may obtain one, while supplies last, at the Ridgewood Police Department located on the second floor of Village Hall.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Information: If you sustained losses or damage from Hurricane Sandy you may be eligible for disaster aid. You can call to Apply: 1·800·621·FEMA (3362). For more information or to Apply: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Schools Update: An update from the Superintendent of Schools will be forthcoming in a separate communication from the Ridgewood Public Schools.
Tree Branches: Tree branches ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE STREET. If you have placed branches in the street, they MUST be removed. Please bring branches to the recycling center.
The conditions outdoors remain dangerous due to downed trees and power lines. Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay away from downed power lines. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything in contact with the wire.
For more information, continue to visit oem.ridgewoodnj.net and the Village of Ridgewood and Ridgewood Police Department Facebook pages for updates.