Sandy Devastates Twp., 6K Powerless Tuesday

UPDATE, 8:30 a.m, Tuesday: 

"It's bad."

Washington Township Police Lt. Doug Compton, who has been working since 2 a.m. Tuesday, said all of the town's major roadways are blocked, from Schooley's Mountain Road to Naughright Road and everything between.

Hurricane Sandy's damaging winds took down trees and branches throughout Monday and into Tuesday, leaving 6,649 residences in the dark, according to Jersey Central Power & Light's outage map. 

Shelters are currently not being opened in the township as Chief of Police Michael Bailey believes roads are too hazardous to traverse. 

"The most important thing we can tell people right now," Compton said, "is to just stay home."

All three of Washington Township's volunteer fire companies, along with the Department of Public Works are out trying to clear roadways Tuesday morning.  

Washington Township has also activated a local, non-emergency hotline for residents to call to report downed trees on their road and the need for basement pumping by local fire departments rather than calling the county's dispatch.

That number is 908-876-4633. If the line is busy, continue to call until you get through to someone, emergency management officials said. 

For full Hurricane Sandy coverage, go here. 

What neighborhood are you in? When did you lose power? Tell us in the comments.