Mayor: Warren Has Been 'Extremely Active' After Sandy

The following is a letter from Warren Mayor Carolann Garafola to residents:

Myself, as Mayor, and my fellow members of the Township Committee, understand the significant hardship that the residents of Warren Township are currently going through as we recover from Superstorm Sandy. 

I have personally spoken to hundreds of Warren residents about the impact of power outages to your daily lives.  Our prayers go out to those residents whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged.   I have listened to the concerns of the elderly, those with serious medical conditions, and those with young children, who are trying to cope. The Township Committee is doing everything they can to get JCP&L and PSE&G to fully restore power to all Warren Township residents. 

The Township has been extremely active in preparations for the storm and continues to take action to deal with the aftermath.

1. The Warren Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has prepared and submitted to the Somerset County OEM, the Township’s Emergency Management Plan which consists of multiple sections including Fire, Police, Resource Management, Public Information, Hazardous Material, and Preparedness, which guides the Township’s response in an emergency
2. During this emergency by Superstorm Sandy, beginning on October 28, 2012, meetings at the Warren OEM office have been held attended by First Responders and Warren Elected Officials.
3. The Warren Police Department has assisted residents with generators for those residents who are on oxygen.  If you are one of those residents, contact the Police Department at (908) 753-1000 if you need assistance.
4. The Township Committee has advocated on behalf of its residents, that Somerset County be declared a Federal Disaster Area.  FEMA representatives have been active in Warren Township.  If you desire to register for this assistance, please call 1-800-621-3362.  You may be eligible for individual assistance.
5. The Warren Police Department has assisted both JCP&L and PSE&G representatives in performing their duties by providing traffic assistance and guiding them to correct locations for tree removal and utility restoration.  Officers have also developed lists of hazardous conditions and provided that information to the utility. 
6. There has been daily communication with JCP&L and PSE&G representatives to demand the restoration of power and have expressed the frustration of our residents.
7. The Offices of Governor Chris Christie, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, Senator Kean and Congressman Lance have been contacted to assist in expediting power restoration.
8. Warming centers were opened at various times at Stonehouse Community Church, the Warren Court House, Central School, and Angelo L. Tomasso School.  These centers provided a place for residents to warm up, use the Internet and recharge their batteries. 
9. An overnight shelter was opened at Stone House Community Church from Tuesday through Thursday for residents who needed a place to sleep.
10. Police, Fire and Public Works crews cleared roadways from tree debris where trees were not impacted by live wires.

Please find below, a Resource Update which provides specific information for our residents to utilize to assist them in meeting the challenges of this event. 

It has been over 10 days since power was lost in this community and over 2,000 people are still without power.  Your Township Committee, Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, and Municipal Offices, are here to assist you in dealing with this crisis. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time if we can assist you.

For further information please contact:  Township Administrator, Mark M. Krane at (908) 753-8000, Ext. 250 or 252. 

*** Resource Update 11/8/12 -- 12 PM *** 

When you have power back, please email Warren Twp. Office of Emergency Management (OEM)warrenoem@gmail.com with street address & nearest cross-street to add to the “Power Restoration Street List” on www.warrennj.org. 

Warren Twp. Library open regular hours 9:30A-9P @ 42 Mountain Blvd.

Free Bottled Drinking Water 9A – 5P 

Mt. Bethel Volunteer Fire Co., 128 Mt. Bethel Rd.

Limit 1 case per family 

Potable Water – Bring your own containers

Snack Shack Municipal Field, 46 Mountain Blvd.

**Pump to collect water for toilets is located at the batting cage near the Snack Shack

Ice -- Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy, 402 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough 

Red Cross Overnight Shelter -- Bring toiletries, towel, sheets, pillow

25 Olcott Ave., Bernardsville @ Bernards High School

Showers – Bring photo ID, toiletries, & towels

• Somerset Hills YMCA @ Riverwalk 665 Martinsville Rd, Basking Ridge 908.903.0870

o   Mon-Thurs 5:15A-10:30P, Fri 5:15A-8P, Sat 6A-6P, Sun 7A-6P

• Somerset Hills YMCA @ 140 Mt. Airy Rd., Basking Ridge 908.766.7898

o   Mon-Thurs 5:15A-10:30P, Fri 5:15A-10P, Sat 6A-8P, Sun 7A-6P

Laundromats – Bring quarters, detergent, dryer sheets

• 340 East Front St., Plainfield 908.753.6500
• Washland 204 West 7th St., Plainfield 908.769.7833
• Middlesex Laundromat 136 Boundbrook Rd., Middlesex 732.968.7133

Township Info: www.warrennj.org

• Construction Dept. --  Electrical Permits: Special hours for electrical service connections are on Saturday November 10th and Veteran’s Day, November 12th from  9 AM to 2 PM, waiving permit fees & expediting processing on a case-by-case basis. 908.753.8000 x-241 & x-241

• Twp Zoning Dept.: Removal of tree down/damaged due to storm, no need for tree permit

• Twp Debris & Brush Removal: Must have curbside by 11/12/2012. Branches & limbs no longer than 6’& 5”diameter.

• Register for reverse-911: www.warrenpolice.com click on Global Connect icon

• OEM (Office of Emergency Management) 908.753.8000 x-262

FEMA www.disasterassistance.gov 800.621.3362

• Local disaster recover center @ Somerset County Human Services Building at 27 Warren St., Somerville
• Thursday, Nov. 8, 2P-8P
• Monday - Sunday 8A-8P until further notice

Electric

• JCP&L 888.544.4877 http://outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html
• PSE&G 800.436.7734 www.pseg.com/home/customer_service/outageinfo/outagemap.jsp

 Gas

• Elizabethtown Gas 800.492.4009
• PSE&G 800.436.7734

Complaints (gas & electric utilities): NJ Board of Public Utilities 800.624.0241 or 609.341.9188 

Other assistance: 211

Carolann Garafola