Maplewood Township has issued the following update at 3:48 p.m., Oct. 2, 2015:
The Maplewood Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring Hurricane Joaquin and recent storm reports show that it is tracking east and will not directly hit Maplewood. However the weekend weather into Monday is anticipated to have high winds and rain. Flooding is expected in low-lying areas. Residents are still advised to prepare for heavy rain and high winds from the storm regardless of its path.
The expected high winds and heavy rains can be dangerous and cause power outages as well as localized flooding and residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution. If you observe downed power lines or other hazards please contact the Maplewood Police Department at 973 762 3400 or 9-1-1 for emergencies. If you experience a power outage please contact PSE&G directly at 800-436-PSEG (7734) to report it.
Monitor our website, social media and your email and phone for any updates. To make sure you receive all Township emergency notifications please make sure that you and your family are signed up for emergency alerts at https://www.twp.maplewood.
Governor Christie has issued Executive Order 186 declaring a State of Emergency extending statewide in preparation for Hurricane Joaquin. The Township is in contact with the Essex County Office of Emergency Management who will assist us should the need arise.
Please take this time to review your family’s emergency plan and check / stock up your emergency supplies. More information on how to prepare can be found at: https://www.ready.gov/
If you depend on a sump pump to keep you home free of water remember that the sump pump is not allowed to be connected to the sanitary sewer line. That is the line that takes sewerage and brown water from your home to the sanitary sewer line in the street.
If you depend on a portable generator in the event power does go out, beware of Carbon Monoxide hazards by keeping in mind the following:
- Always use generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents.
- NEVER use generators in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, or other enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. The unit should also be placed at least 10 feet away from any windows, doors or vent openings.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
- Have battery-operated or plug-in (with battery backup) carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home, following manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep the generator dry. Operate on a dry surface under an open, canopy- like structure.
- Dry your hands before touching the generator.
- Plug appliances directly into generator or use a heavy-duty outdoor- rated extension cords. Make sure the entire extension cord is free of cuts or tears and the plug has all 3 prongs, especially a grounding pin.
- Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
- Always store fuel outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.
- Store fuel away from any fuel-burning appliance.
Electronics Recycling due to take place on Saturday October 3, 2015 is rescheduled forSaturday October 17, 2015.
From Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca on Friday morning, Oct. 2, 2015:
The Township’s Local Emergency Management Committee met this morning to review plans in the event Maplewood is impacted by Hurricane Joaquin. All municipal departments are prepared for the storm and we will implement emergency plans if the weather conditions worsen. Our Local Emergency Management Committee will be available all weekend to monitor the situation.
I have been on calls this morning with Governor Christie and his administration and with Public Service Electric and Gas. The Governor’s office is well prepared and expects any significant storm impact to be in southern New Jersey and along the shore. PSE&G did not think there would be any problems unless we are hit with high winds.
As needed, I will update this post on the Township’s website.
Information below is from the Maplewood Health Department and from Public Service Electric & Gas:
In preparation for the hurricane, the New Jersey Department of Health and NJ Office of Emergency Management have created a ‘Medical and Health Needs’ checklist of some essential items that residents should have on hand as you shelter-in-place at home. This list also covers what you may need to bring with you if you are moved to a shelter (in the event that conditions for your home are unsafe):
- Personal identification, medical cards, health & prescription insurance cards (including Medicare & Medicaid).
- Any/All prescription medications you are currently taking in the original bottles with prescription labels; these include insulin and all your over-the-counter medications.
- A list of personal contacts and phone numbers for your emergency contact(s), family members, doctors, pharmacy, and medical equipment supply company.
- All parents/caretakers of infants and children with specialized medical care needs should bring formulas as well as disposable diapers and wipes.
- Any blood glucose monitoring devices.
- Eyeglasses, dentures/denture cleaner and hearing aids.
- Any portable medical equipment including wheelchairs, walkers or canes.
- Your oxygen cylinder and an oxygen concentrator.
- Your cell phone and charger.
- Your medical appointment calendar.
- Clothing and footwear for several days, including night garments and undergarments.
- Toiletries (soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste).
- Incontinence supplies (liners, briefs and pads) and personal hygiene supplies (toothbrush, razor, comb).
- Any non-perishable food or snacks that support a special diet (liquid-nutrition, gluten-free, casein-free, etc.).
In addition, READY.gov provides a BASIC DISASTER SUPPLIES LIST (see below) that all residents should have:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Please sign up for township updates under “CODE RED” on the Maplewood Township website.
Save PSE&G’s Customer Service number, 1-800-436-7734, in your phone.
Confirm that all of your contact information is correct in the customer system by logging into My Account or calling 1-800-436-7734
Bookmark the mobile friendly website, www.pseg.com, for outage reporting and updates.
Register your phone for outage reporting and updates by texting REG to 4PSEG (47734). Once registered, report power outages by texting “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734).
Sign-up for MyAccount at www.pseg.com to report your outage and track restoration progress.
Follow PSE&G on Facebook and @PSEGdelivers.
Gas generators should be used with caution, following all safety and operations guidelines in order to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electric shock and fire.
It is also important to have an emergency kit ready in the event an emergency occurs. An emergency kit should include:
- A battery powered radio
- A corded telephone (Cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
- Flashlights and extra fresh batteries
- A first-aid kit
- Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food
- A non-electric can opener
- Extra blankets and sleeping bags
- General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.
Register for PSE&G’s MyAlerts service to receive text and email notifications about power restoration through My Account at pseg.com.
