Power Update, Schools Remain Closed in Little Silver

An update from Little Silver Mayor Robert C. Neff, Jr.:

POWER

JCP&L continues to slowly bring power back to Little Silver. However, the electric company advises that it may be Wednesday before the majority of residents will have power.

As of Monday evening, about 834 customers in the borough were still without power, according to JCP&L, down from the original 2,477. The electric company predicts that it will bring 167 more customers on line on Tuesday, Nov. 6, but advises that it is currently running ahead of predictions.

JCP&L advises that it was delayed in returning Little Silver to power because all three of its substations, and all five of the circuits running from those substations, were damaged. It has now moved through those repairs and is working on the individual lines and transformers in town. 

Please turn off all circuit breakers prior to power being restored. When power is restored, turn breakers on one by one.

SCHOOLS UPDATE

Point Road School and Markham Place School will remain closed for the rest of the week, and anticipate reopening on Monday, Nov. 12.

The Borough OEM, the School District, the Mayor's officeand others are working closely together to reopen school as quickly, and as safely, as possible. We regret any inconvenience or disruption caused by the reconsideration of our inital plan to reopen Markham Place School on Tuesday, which had been reached after considerable, joint deliberations among the Mayor's office, the school district, and the OEM. Unfortunately, the fluid nature of this emergency, considerations involving the safety of children walking to school, the fact that JCP&L wires remain down, and potential traffic safety issues caused the reconsideration, and a collaborative decision was made to remain closed. We will continue to communicate by way of the Two River Alert system, letters posted by the School District on www.littlesilverschools.org, and this website, as further developments occur.

DEBRIS REMOVAL

The Borough is moving as quickly as it can to pick up limbs, brush, and other vegetative debris. Household trash pickup is proceeding on schedule. Recycling pickup is presently suspended, but the recycling station at the DPW facility on Fairview Avenue is manned for those who wish to drop off recycleables.

Please do not put out extremely heavy bags or containers. Many small containers or bags work better and are more easily picked up by our hauler. With respect to large flood-related debris, including furniture, pilings, and other bulk items, the Borough is exploring the feasibility of contracting with a hauler to remove large bulk items that cannot be removed by homeowners or the borough, particularly in flooded areas. The Borough does not normally remove this material, and does not itself have the personnel or capacity to collect it. We will update this process as it moves forward, but in the meantime, please take advantage of any insurance coverage that may provide you with the ability to have this heavy debris removed.