The Alternative Press

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ – As night has fallen, and the sound of the howling wind, pounding rain, blowing trees, and screaming sirens have become more prevalent, power outages have sharply increased in Sussex County over the last few hours. 

 

Hurricane Sandy’s status has also changed, in the midst of the storm, as it has officially made landfall.

 

“Sandy becomes post-tropical, i.e. a nor’easter, while still off the coast of NJ,” tweeted Gary Szatkowski, of the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, N.J. “No hurricane landfall for NJ.”

 

The National Weather Service still classifies Sandy as a dangerous storm, and, as a post-tropical or wintertime cyclone (also known as extratropical or frontal low), the energy comes from temperature contrasts, and is distributed over larger areas.

 

Sussex County Administrator, John Eskilson, said, “It’s not good in general,” though he did indicate the infrastructure is not as affected at the moment, as it was with Hurricane Irene last year.

 

However, Eskilson noted, the storm is not over yet. And, county crews have been pulled off of work details for safety reasons for now.

 

“The winds are 35 miles per hour, with some pretty serious gusts,” Eskilson said. “It’s not safe for them to be out clearing debris.”

 

Citizens are still recommended to be off of the roads, and Eskilson said, “For the most part, people are off of the road.”

 

Eskilson received a report of a motor vehicle accident in Vernon, but said he is unsure of the injuries, or extent of damages.

 

Power outages are the pressing issue right now, and crews are unable to work, due to the dangerous conditions.


“It’s extremely widespread,” said Eskilson, with JCP&L reporting approximately 25,000 outages in Sussex County, and, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative 3,000.

 

In terms of percentages, 75 percent of Sparta Township, which has been impacted the worst, is without power. Other percentages include: Green Township (80%), Hardyston Township (65%), Lafayette Township (40%), and Stillwater Township (100%).

 

Some color-coding on the JCP&L outage map indicates Sparta Township has an excess of 5,000 customers currently without power.

 

The present statistics of JCP&L customers without power are:

 

Andover Borough: 52

Fredon Township: 337

Andover Township; 1,665

Byram Township: 288

Franklin Borough: 423

Frankford Township: 1,388

Fredon Township: 307

Green Township: 1,143

Hamburg Borough: 188

Hardyston Township: 1,683

Hampton Township: 1,224

Hopatcong Borough: 367

Lafayette Township: 321

Montague Township: 1,290

Ogdensburg Borough: 516

Town of Newton: 560

Sandyston Township: 1,150

Sparta Township: 6,690

Stanhope Borough: 342

Stillwater Township: 2,201

Vernon Township: 833

Walpack Township area: 1,143

Wantage Township: 1,279

 

Hamburg Borough Police posted on its Facebook Page, “Please be advised that we have received notification that JCP&L has removed their crews from the field as the wind speeds have become too intense. They will not continue restoration efforts until the storm has passed. Residents are still encouraged to report their power outages to the company.”

 

Call JCP&L for outages at: (888) 544-4877.

 

Call Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative to report outages at: (877) 504-6483.

 

The list of county road closures has increased (click here to view) and currently includes:

 

Andover Township: Route 623 (Mulford Road to Pierce Road)

Frankford Township Route 521 and 633 (Mountain Road to Route 206; Sharp Road to 206)

Fredon Township Route 610 (Kohlbacker Road to Fredon Marksboro Road)

Green Township Route 608 (Ridge Road, Fredon and Green)

Hampton Township: Route 521 and 626 (Frank Chandler Road to Route 626; Route 521 to 627)

Hopatcong Borough: Route 605 (Railroad to Maple)

Montague Township: Route 650 (Adams Lane to New Road)

Sparta Township: Route 613 (Maple to Hilltop)

Stillwater Township: Route 617 (Fairview Lake Road to Possum Hill Road; Route 521 to 627)

Vernon Township: Route 517 and 644 (near Route 94; Route 94 to Church Street)

Route 521 (County Road 633 to Mountain Road 617)

Route 630 (Fox Hill Road to Main Street)

 

Earlier today, President Barack Obama signed the New Jersey Emergency Declaration, according to FEMA.