NJ families are still sweating in the dark — and patience with power companies is running out
⚡49,625 JCP&L and PSE&G customers were still without power Monday morning
⚡Lawmakers are criticizing communication and demanding better restoration updates
⚡NJ Transit rail service remains disrupted
Frustrations are mounting as New Jersey residents face a third day without power and elected officials press utility companies for better answers about restoration.
49,625 JCP&L and PSE&G customers are still without power as of 2:45 p.m. Monday, even as the heat wave that spawned Friday's thunderstorms ends. The number spiked up following heavy rain on Monday morning.
JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig doesn't expect the expected rain to have a major effect on the restoration effort.
"The rain is not a scary thing for us as long as we can keep thunderstorms away we can keep that momentum going. Our crews are prepared; they have all the equipment that they need, all the safety equipment that they need," Hoenig said. "If we do see some flooding, we have flood mitigation measures in place at our substations that are prone to flooding, and we're ready to meet that weather head-on."
Power outages in New Jersey as of Monday, July 6
- JCP&L: 36,722 customers were still without power, especially in Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Sussex and Union counties
- PSE&G: 12,903 customers were still without power, mostly in Bergen, Essex and Union counties.
"We did pick up quite a bit of momentum yesterday, we are down right now at about 40,000 customers remaining without power as of Monday morning and obviously that is no consolation if you are one of those 40,000 that is still out," Hoenig said. "We're continuing to bring additional crews and resources in, and we are committed to getting the lights back on as fast and safely as possible."
ALSO READ: 19 suspected heat deaths reported in New Jersey
NJ lawmakers criticize utility communication and response
The utilities have met with mayors and legislators to discuss restoration.
Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn, R-Monmouth, is not happy with the level of communication and fears the lessons from Sandy have been lost. She is concerned that restoration in adult communities is not being prioritized and wants communities to receive more notice about crews in town.
She is also surprised that Gov. Mikie Sherrill has not come to view the damage herself and has not declared a state of emergency to free up resources.
"I think it would go a long way if the governor was out in the community talking to the residents, talking to our mayors and local officials," Flynn told New Jersey 101.5.
Sherrill's office had no events listed on the governor's Monday schedule.
Flynn said she hopes the governor's response will be similar to last winter's major storms in the early days of her administration, in which she held regular briefings and got assistance to where it was needed.
Sherrill on Monday morning on her X account said that she visited the Morris County Office of Emergency Management and Jersey Central Power & Light's staging operation in Morris County. According to Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo, both Republicans, the visit was by invitation only.
"We were told the Governor would be in Morris County within twenty-four hours. No public schedule, no public visit was announced, and then through the grapevine we heard she met with a "select group" of mayors at a college in Morris County. What in the actual hell is going on here," Fantasia said.
Potillo in a letter to Sherrill said he was disappointed he was not invited and urged he to declare a state of emergency. He said the township lost $1.8 million in tax revenue when the warehouse that was to house an ICE detention center was sold and the overtime required to handle the storm will compound its "fiscal challenges."
ALSO READ: 7-day heat wave ends with scattered rain, flood watch
NJ Transit service impacts continue
NJ Transit’s Morris & Essex and Gladstone Branch lines remain suspended with limited service on the Morris & Essex between Summit and New York Penn Station. Montclair-Boonton Line rail service, including Mid-Town Direct trains to and from New York, will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
There is at least one reported death related to Friday’s storms. News 12 reports Jared C. Hirschowitz, 41, was killed when a tree limb fell on the hood of his vehicle as he was driving on Raritan Road.
State police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron says the body of a man who went tubing Friday night during the storms in the Delaware River was found Sunday. Jason Blanco, 19, of Flemington, got out of the tube in Alexandria around 9:40 p.m. and fell into the water. A boater found his body near the Riverview park area.
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Damage from Severe Thunderstorms of Friday, July 3
Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander
