The Alternative Press

UPDATE: SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Clearing roads of fallen trees, limbs and wires is the village’s top priority to ensure emergency vehicles access down all streets, village officials announced this afternoon.

A state of emergency remains in effect for the village. No residents should go out trick-or-treating on Wednesday night, according to village officials.

The village has reopened its streets, which were shut at 4 p.m. on Monday to non-emergency traffic as winds from the storm picked up force.

The South Orange-Maplewood School District has closed all schools for Wednesday. However, Village Hall will reopen on Wednesday.

Seton Hall University also will remain closed on Wednesday, according to announcement at 3:45 p.m. through its Pirate Alert system. SHUFly will resume service at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, following a Sunday schedule. SafeRide will resume operation Wednesday evening.

According to the village website, flooding was minimal, but there was extensive wind damage to trees and power lines. The Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works fielded more than 400 calls Monday night, and at least 75 trees fell across roads.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, PSE&G reported 4,700 customers without power, and power outages throughout New Jersey have affected 2.5 million customers.

Village officials are urging individuals to conserve water because of possible water shortages due to flooding.

The Main Lounge at Seton Hall University has been designated as a local shelter. Those who need to shelter on campus should contact the South Orange Police Department at 973-763-3000. The library will resume normal hours on Wednesday.

Sandy made landfall about 8 p.m. Monday near Atlantic City, according to the National Weather Service. At that time, she was labeled by the NWS as a post-tropical cyclone.