Lakewood: Much of Town Still Without Power

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lkwd-sandy-3Lakewood, NJ – At Beth Medrash Govoha today, the discussion was about Abaye and Rava, Ravina and Rav Ashi, as learning continued unabated at America’s largest makom Torah.

The yeshiva’s main campus had full power, though signs of Hurricane Sandy were aplenty, with trees directly in front of the Adolph and Ethel Beren building lying on the ground, after having been completely uprooted from the ground by the strong gusts of the storm.

Across town, most boys schools resumed classes today, but with public schools being closed, there was no transportation. Drivers reported it taking upwards of 40 minutes to get from one side of town to the other as they drove their sons to yeshiva.

At the Center For Health Education Medicine & Dentistry, Ray Builders worked tirelessly to procure and install generators to restore power and ensure that the office would be able to handle patients. Chemed will be closing at 6 p.m.

Workers restore a stop sign at Yussi's in West Gate.
Workers restore a stop sign at Yussi's in West Gate.

On the other side of town, at the Hilton Garden Inn, many people from the Jersey Shore were awaiting news of their island homes.

“The hotel staff has been extraordinary, even to those of us who aren’t staying in the hotel,” one person at the hotel told a Matzav.com reporter. “Business has been suspended in a sense and replaced by community service and compassion.”

Last night, Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood offered use of their freezer space at their warehouse off of Prospect Street to Lakewooders without power.

Much of Lakewood remains without power, though portions of West Gate, by far Lakewood’s largest development, with hundreds of homes, regained electricity this morning.

Madison Avenue/Route 9 does not have power, and Lakewood police officers are out directing traffic. Many major roadways are without power and with heavy traffic. Trees and wires are down on many local streets.

“It would be advisable for drivers to stay away from streets that usually have traffic lights,” an askon advised. “Stay on other streets, where traffic will be less complicated.”

Looking for happy residents? Visit Somerset Walk, Pine River Village and some other select developments that have maintained power throughout the crisis.

Refuah Pharmacy’s branches on County Line Road and in West Gate are both fully operational for those in need of medications. Likewise, Kosher Village, located right outside the Villas, and Kosher West in West Gate are open – and busy.

All Lowe’s stores are open. At the Lowe’s store in Howell, right outside of Lakewood, many shoppers have picked up water and other supplies as they wait for power in their homes to return.

lkwd-sandy-2Lakewood public schools will be closed until at least next week Monday.

Some local gas stations are inoperational. Those that can provide gas are jammed with motorists waiting for a turn at the pump.

Nearby Howell is experiencing widespread power outages as well and there are no functioning traffic lights. Thus, intersections on Route 9 are blocked off and the only turnaround is at Aldrich Road, where officers are directing traffic. Interstate 195 can also be utilized as a turnaround.
If you are travelling in this area, expect long delays.

“The Garden State Parkway – if you can get there – is a road of choice, as it is clear,” a driver advised. “Don’t attempt to get there through Squankum Road, though, as it is blocked off in various spots.”

Drivers are advised to stay off of the roads whenever possible and otherwise drive with caution in consideration of the continued threat of downed power lines, trees, branches, and the work of emergency management and utility crews.

About 17,000 residents remain without power.Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is assessing the extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy, with more than 1,600 linemen, 1,200 forestry workers and other personnel working to restore power to customers.

“This is the worst storm damage in JCP&L history, far worse than experienced during Hurricane Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. As a result, restoration times will likely be longer,” JCP&L said in a statement.

Damage assessment began this morning with crews on the ground. Today, helicopter crews are inspecting 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines that are damaged. Early assessments indicate parts of the transmission system may need to be rebuilt. Helicopters also will assess the extensive damage throughout the system. JCPL has 10 helicopters available and is working to secure more.

As of this morning, more than 930,000 JCP&L customers are without power and that number will probably increase as assessment continues. Limited restoration of power is expected to take place today while crews assess damage. JCP&L urged customers to make preparations given the expected lengthy outages.

Downed trees and branches have made many roads impassable, and these closures could delay this process. Forestry crews are working to remove downed trees and branches. Once winds die down and bucket trucks can be operated safely, those crews will be dispatched to handle repairs.

Many of JCP&L’s substations near the shore were sandbagged to help prevent water damage and are now being assessed. At least a few substations experienced flooding due to storm surge. The early priority will be rebuilding transmission damage and repairing flooded substations. Emergency services, including hospitals, police, fire and first aid will be given first priority for restoration of service. Then, repairs are scheduled based on restoring the most customers the fastest.

JCP&L reminded customers to keep safety first as restoration begins and to stay away from downed power lines. Customers are asked to report outages at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). The more people who call, the faster JCP&L can pinpoint the locations to send crews for repairs.

{Dov Green-Matzav.com Newscenter}


9 COMMENTS

  1. Keep in mind the low ratio of crews to outages, even with outside crews arriving from other states to help. There is no magic switch.

  2. As of this morning Finchley is closed, & E Veterans Highwat (to get to195) is blocked by a tree. Use County Lune West or Route 9 to access 195 W

  3. With much of Lakewood still without power, I humbly feel that Hashem is trying to send us a message that “we” are putting out the light of the beauty of Lakewood, the largest town in the US of Torah learning. The light of the Kedusha the light of thousands of Torah learners right here in our town of Lakewood

    We have more Yeshivas and Mesiftas than in any other town or city in America BY”H

    It’s time for everyone of us to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh and see what could be corrected to bring back the light of the Schinah to Lakewood the town of Torah and chessed

    If we don’t take this storm seriously who knows what other difficult message Hashem might have to send us in order to wake up and do Teshuva?

    Take a moment and think…are we living a spiritual life at least similar to our great grand parents the way they lived when they arrived in America some 70 years ago? or are we indulged in our clothing, i.e. shoes, jewelry, belt, coat, & mink coats, boots, shopping, hunting for bargains, living in restaurants, redoing our kitchens every so often, always planning our next vacations, now Leshem Mitzvah we are busy planning our winter vacation, and of course Motzai Shabbos hot Pizza & fries, we have turned into a major planning board not leaving enough time to see and plan our lives as “how to serve Hashem better”

    Lets be honest it’s almost impossible to walk the streets and keep our eyes clean, and yes, I am talking in neighbourhoods of Bnai Torah and Chasidim, not in Harlem, Miami Beach or Las Vegas

    This “FrankenStorm” has been felt by many of us we are all suffering because of it in one way or another, but….. The million dollar question is: are we waking up to Hashems cry?

    Now let’s be strong and say to Hashem: OK we are ready to change our ways of life, our materialism lifestyle that we have lived up to now will change!!! We’ll start getting ourselves ready for the coming of Moshiach by living a true Torah life. BTW When Moshiach arrives there will be nothing left of all our Gasmius, so get a head start…and get rid of it now lets be more careful with all of the Halocos and Mitzovos of our special sweet Torah.

    s.p. I would like to ask everyone to take this Frankenstorm warning from Hashem very seriously

  4. With much of Lakewood still without power, I humbly feel that Hashem is trying to send us a message that “we” are putting out the light of the beauty of Lakewood, the largest town in the US of Torah learning. The light of the Kedusha the light of thousands of Torah learners right here in our town of Lakewood

    We have more Yeshivas and Mesiftas than in any other town or city in America BY”H

    It’s time for everyone of us to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh and see what could be corrected to bring back the light of the Schinah to Lakewood the town of Torah and chessed

    If we don’t take this storm seriously who knows what other difficult message Hashem might have to send us in order to wake up and do Teshuva?

    Take a moment and think…are we living a spiritual life at least similar to our great grand parents the way they lived when they arrived in America some 70 years ago? or are we indulged in our clothing, i.e. shoes, jewelry, belt, coat, & mink coats, boots, shopping, hunting for bargains, living in restaurants, redoing our kitchens every so often, always planning our next vacations, now Leshem Mitzvah we are busy planning our winter vacation, and of course Motzai Shabbos hot Pizza & fries, we have turned into a major planning board not leaving enough time to see and plan our lives as “how to serve Hashem better”

    Lets be honest it’s almost impossible to walk the streets and keep our eyes clean, and yes, I am talking in neighbourhoods of Bnai Torah and Chasidim, not in Harlem, Miami Beach or Las Vegas
    This “FrankenStorm” has been felt by many of us we are all suffering because of it in one way or another, but….. The million dollar question is: are we waking up to Hashems cry?

    Now let’s be strong and say to Hashem: OK we are ready to change our ways of life, our materialism lifestyle that we have lived up to now will change!!! We’ll start getting ourselves ready for the coming of Moshiach by living a true Torah life. BTW When Moshiach arrives there will be nothing left of all our Gasmius, so get a head start…and get rid of it now lets be more careful with all of the Halocos and Mitzovos of our special sweet Torah.

    s.p. I would like to ask everyone to take this Frankenstorm warning from Hashem very seriously

  5. With much of Lakewood still without power, I humbly feel that Hashem is trying to send us a message that “we” are putting out the light of the beauty of Lakewood, the largest town in the US of Torah learning. The light of the Kedusha the light of thousands of Torah learners right here in our town of Lakewood

    We have more Yeshivas and Mesiftas than in any other town or city in America BY”H

    It’s time for everyone of us to make a Cheshbon Hanefesh and see what could be corrected to bring back the light of the Schinah to Lakewood the town of Torah and chessed

    If we don’t take this storm seriously who knows what other difficult message Hashem might have to send us in order to wake up and do Teshuva?

    Take a moment and think…are we living a spiritual life at least similar to our great grand parents the way they lived when they arrived in America some 70 years ago? or are we indulged in our clothing, i.e. shoes, jewelry, belt, coat, & mink coats, boots, shopping, hunting for bargains, living in restaurants, redoing our kitchens every so often, always planning our next vacations, now Leshem Mitzvah we are busy planning our winter vacation, and of course Motzai Shabbos hot Pizza & fries, we have turned into a major planning board not leaving enough time to see and plan our lives as “how to serve Hashem better”

    Lets be honest it’s almost impossible to walk the streets and keep our eyes clean, and yes, I am talking in neighbourhoods of Bnai Torah and Chasidim, not in Harlem, Miami Beach or Las Vegas
    This “FrankenStorm” has been felt by many of us we are all suffering because of it in one way or another, but….. The million dollar question is: are we waking up to Hashems cry?

    Now let’s be strong and say to Hashem: OK we are ready to change our ways of life, our materialism life style that we have lived up to now will change!!! We’ll start getting ourselves ready for the coming of Moshiach by living a true Torah life. BTW When Moshiach arrives there will be nothing left of all our Gasmius, so get a head start…and get rid of it now lets be more careful with all of the Halocos and Mitzovos of our special sweet Torah.

    s.p. I would like to ask everyone to take this Frankenstorm warning from Hashem very seriously

  6. to #4,
    Find another possuk…
    that one is talking about a makka delivered to a wicked kingdom….
    it does NOT apply here….
    … also, in Mitzrayim the Yidden were NOT affected by the makka, however with Sandy that unfortunately is not the case…

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