The Alternative Press

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Residents are asked to conserve water and avoid doing laundry and cleaning because the village's water supplier, East Orange Water Commission, is running below capacity.

The advisory was issued on Wednesday as the village continues its efforts to recover from the storm that came ashore Monday night.

According to a statement on Facebook from Village President Alex Torpey, Public Service Electric & Gas is working on restoring substations and primary lines first. Power lines to individual residences, which Torpey says are “a large percentage of South Orange’s power loss,” are lower priority.

“It’s not going to be a quick fix,” Torpey wrote. “We expect it will be several days for the majority of residents to get power back.”

Schools in South Orange and Maplewood will remained closed this week due to power outages and hazardous conditions, according to an announcement on the South Orange-Maplewood School District website. Seton Hall University also will remain closed Thursday and Friday.

An email message from university President Gabriel Esteban noted that the campus itself has power, water, heat and Internet access, but that the university has sustained power outages and damage to some off-campus buildings. The cafeteria in the University Center reopened on Wednesday and will remain open, according to Esteban.

“To the best of our knowledge, members of our Seton Hall community have been spared from serious injury,” he wrote.

Seton Hall University’s Main Lounge continues to be available for South Orange residents needing shelter, according to the Office of Emergency Management. Those wishing to stay on campus should bring their own bedding. To make arrangements for shelter, residents should call the South Orange Police Department at 973-763-3000.