Hurricane May Hit LV Hard; Time to Prepare

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Irene is heading toward the northeast, and is forecasted to hit New Jersey early Sunday morning.

Because Washington Township is rarely affected by hurricanes, many residents may be unsure of what to do in case of an emergency.

“The first place to call if your power goes out is the electric company,” said Washington Township’s Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Charlie Davidson. “Calling the police department isn’t going to help a lot if your power goes out. By calling the electric company, they can map out where outages are taking place, and try to restore power as soon as possible.”

The same goes for gas, Davidson said. If your home’s gas goes out, contact your provider.

If major damage hits the area and power is out for a few days, there are emergency shelter locations residents should be aware of. Each fire company–, Long Valley Fire Company, and Fairmount Fire Company–all have back up power sources with clean water supply and bathroom facilities, Davidson said.

For overnight stay in the case of a major disaster, the would be the town’s main shelter.

Much like a winter storm when an abundance of snow or ice blankets the area, Washington Township Police and the Department of Public Works urge residents to take precautions on the roadways and be prepared for an impending disaster.

“When we close a road in town, it’s for a reason,” Washington Township Police Lt. Mark Niemynski said. “There may be flooding, or a tree down, or power lines on the ground. We’re not closing the road just because we feel like it. There’s an obvious hazard or obstruction, and it’s for safety precautions.”

Niemynski said there have been cases where cars have been swept off the road from moving water after trying to drive through flooded areas.

The township’s problem areas in the event of flooding are usually on West Mill Road, west of the Long Valley Middle School; the intersection of Bartley and Naughright Roads; the bridge over the Musconetcong River on East Avenue; and the bridge over the same river at the bottom of Kings Highway, Niemynski said.

Depending on the forecast as the storm nears, the police department may have extra members of the squad working over the weekend. “If it becomes worse, we’ll call more guys in if needed,” Niemynski said.

Superintendent of Public Works Scott Frech said his crew would be ready if needed as well.

“We’ll have a core bunch of guys truly available if needed,” Frech said. “We’ll prepare for it like we would a snowstorm and just be available at all times.”

Frech said the two tree chippers owned by the department will be ready and available for use if fallen trees clog roadways, and all barricades, cones and other road-closing equipment will be available and ready for use before the storm hits.

If there are power lines or trees down, both Niemynski and Frech advise residents to stay away and call police department to report the situation, rather than trying to handle it themselves.

“A power line could look fine but could still be hot,” Frech said. “And if you’re out there trying to move something off the road, you might be in the path of another tree or power line falling.”

To be prepared for the coming storm, Davidson noted the basics of what to have in your home, including extra water, flashlights and batteries, some extra food, and a portable radio.

Davidson also said if you rely on an oxygen tank, to be sure to have extra equipment on hand before the storm comes. If you are unable to do so, and are in need of immediate assistance, call the police department and they will help make arrangements.

If flooding in your basement gets to a dangerous level, Davidson said, you can call your local fire department and they will pump it out.

The Washington Township Police Department can be reached at 908-876-3232, and for emergencies, call 911.

To report a power outage to Jersey Central Power & Light, call 1-888-544-4877.

To report a gas leak or outage to Elizabethtown Gas, call 1-800-492-4009.