While high-velocity winds have the potential to bring down massive tree limbs, block roads, and snap power lines, Westwood was uniquely prepared.
photo courtesy of Mayor Ray Arroyo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, Last weekend, New Jersey faced a brutal combination of extreme weather: gale-force winds exceeding 60 MPH colliding with a punishing, triple-digit heatwave. The severe storms knocked out power for over 200,000 utility customers statewide, leaving many in the dark during some of the hottest days of the year.
Yet, while much of the region struggled, Westwood, NJ managed to weather the worst of the storm.
The secret to Westwood’s resilience wasn’t luck—it was a masterclass in preemptive local planning, community leadership, and proactive environmental management.
Preemptive Protection: How Westwood Avoided Major Storm Damage
While high-velocity winds have the potential to bring down massive tree limbs, block roads, and snap power lines, Westwood was uniquely prepared.
Under the leadership of Mayor Ray Arroyo, Westwood has prioritized community safety through the diligent efforts of the Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee. Led by Committee Chairman Dan Zambrano, member Beth Staples, and Council Liaison Erin Collins, the committee has been executing a sophisticated safety strategy behind the scenes.
Rather than waiting for a storm to hit, the team has regularly briefed local leadership on the aggressive implementation of the town’s Forest Management Plan and comprehensive Tree Inventory.
More Than a Canopy Count: The Power of a Tree Inventory
A tree inventory is often mistaken for a simple aesthetic count of a town’s greenery. In Westwood, it is a vital public safety tool.
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Identifying Hazards: The inventory actively located diseased, dying, and non-viable trees across the municipality.
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Proactive Removal: By identifying these weak points early, the Westwood Department of Public Works (DPW) was able to remove and replace hazardous trees before nature did it for them.
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Protecting Infrastructure: Removing these vulnerable trees cleared the pathways around adjacent homes, local businesses, and critical overhead power lines.
Because these structural hazards were eliminated ahead of time, the 60+ MPH winds had far fewer targets to topple, saving neighborhoods from devastating property damage and prolonged blackouts.
Lightening the Load for Emergency and Utility Crews
The benefits of this proactive forestry management rippled across the entire community emergency response system.
By stopping tree falls before they happened, the Shade Tree Committee significantly reduced the immediate physical dangers faced by residents and first responders during the height of the storm. Furthermore, it paved the way for a much faster recovery:
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Clearer Roads: With fewer trees blocking major thoroughfares, emergency vehicles could navigate the borough safely.
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Faster Power Restoration: Utility repair crews didn’t have to spend hours clearing heavy debris just to reach damaged lines, allowing them to restore power to affected rate payers in record time.
A Community That Shines in the Warmest of Times
Experiencing a major power outage during a 100-degree heatwave on a holiday weekend is an incredibly challenging scenario. Yet, difficult circumstances consistently bring out the absolute best in the Westwood community.
“The wind blew, our cradle (The Hub) was rocked… but didn’t fall.” — Mayor Ray Arroyo
A massive thank you and kudos go out to the dedicated teams who kept the borough safe, functional, and cool during this extreme weather event:
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The Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee
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The Westwood Department of Public Works (DPW)
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The Westwood Police Department
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The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department
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The Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Thanks to their foresight and rapid response, Westwood remains a shining example of how local preparation saves the day.
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