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About 10K Without Power Late Sunday

Mayor hoping JCP&L crew can start working on submerged substation soon.

 

For the latest information on the outage, as of 1 p.m. Monday, click here.

More than 10,000 Morristown-area residents remained without power around midnight Sunday after floodwaters drowned a JCP&L substation on Ridgedale Avenue—but the number appeared to be dropping.

Mayor Tim Dougherty couldn't be reached at that hour, and earlier in the evening could not provide any new information regarding when Morristownians would see power restored. But he did say the water on Ridgedale Avenue was receding.

Dougherty reported earlier in the day that JCP&L had hoped to restore power to much of the residential areas of town by sometime Sunday night, by rerouting power from the submerged substation. At 6:30 p.m., about 11,500 customers in Morristown were still without power, down from about 15,000 earlier.

Several commenters in Patch's live chat on the storm said late Sunday they were beginning to see power come back in Morristown.

"It's a waiting game," the mayor said earlier Sunday, regarding the receding floodwaters. "We've got to clean up trees, water damage, a lot of pump outs [from flooded basements]. So we're going to have a lot of clean-up all week."

Many trees had also fallen throughout the town as a result of Hurricane Irene, including large trees in front of The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Vail Mansion and on Vanderpool Drive, where a 200-year-old tree crashed into a home there.

The entire town lost power Sunday morning. Dougherty said that even if power is restored to residences Sunday night, businesses in the area between the TD Bank on South Street and the Morristown Green could be waiting much longer.

A JCP&L spokesman said early Sunday the outage was caused by "unprecedented flooding" at a substation in town. Morristown Medical Center was operating on emergency backups Sunday morning, but the company was able to restore power before noon. A spokesman reached later at night couldn't provide specific updates on the Morristown situation.

Dougherty said the water on Ridgedale Avenue had pulled back enough by Sunday evening that he was able to see a couple of workers at the JCP&L substation.

"Our residents need their power back. Hang tight," he said. "We'll get it all cleaned up this week."

Floods got so bad from the hurricane as to cause mandatory evacuations for some residents.

Much of Morristown's electricity is supplied through underground electrical generators, a system that has made headlines several times due to problems–including a recent transformer failure outside Walgreens on South Street, which produced thick plumes of smoke for several hours.

Dougherty said Saturday—ahead of the storm—the underground pits where the electrical equipment is located are designed to have water, but acknowledged, "we don't know the outcome. I don't think we've dealt with this significant amount of rainfall in this amount of time."

Sunday, he advised residents to stay inside if possible, but said a shelter at Morristown High School was available for those who needed to leave their homes. Red Cross workers at MHS said things had been going smoothly all day. Dougherty urged extreme caution traveling.

Several roads in town were unpassable and closed off Sunday. Martin Luther King Avenue was completely underwater Sunday morning. And floods at the nearby Manahan Village complex and Beverly Apartments sent residents in that area to Morristown High for a mandatory evacuation.

"Oh my God. I've never seen it like this before. Ever, ever," said Michael Pooler, the town's planning board chairman and a 15-year resident of Morristown.

Robert Hackett, a resident said floods approaching Manahan Village and Beverly Apartments have never before been so wide, and never prompted an evacuation.

Chris Diaz and David Guitierrez, residents of the complex, said they couldn't remember any flooding this intense either.

Diaz said a few years ago, rainwaters were enough to send some locals into boats. But he pointed to a playground on the corner of Flagler Street and Clyde Potts Drive, he said, "This is crazy. Do you know how deep this is?"

Gutierrez stood looking at it the flooding with his daughter. They used to live in an apartment on lower ground in the same complex, but had moved to one higher up in recent years.

For that, he said, he's grateful.

Some or all of Ridgedale Avenue and Spring Street were blocked as well Sunday morning, though most areas immediately around the Morristown Green remained open at that time.

Morristown police said around noon that Washington Street in the area of Burnham Parkway had been reopened.

Related Topics: Hurricane Irene

Rob B

9:03 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

It went down right around 6:30 am

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Warren Bobrow

9:09 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Throw the bums out at JCPL.

They have power at the shore with more rain and wind.

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diane mccormack

10:05 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Back on line. Now to make coffee!

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Donna Lohmeyer

10:18 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Does anyone know if Pine Street has power? Thanks!

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Julie Koza

10:41 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

How about South Street...Thanks!

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Peter Gatscha

10:53 am on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Any news about the power outage on corner South Street and Woodland Ave? It is 10:45 am an we are out since approx 6:30 am.
No wind to report but some tree damage in the back woods.
Peter

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Jamie

12:01 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

It went down at 6:30 this morning here on Franklin St. Luckily, at about 11 it came back on! Not sure what's going on in other parts of town.

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Dougal Murrayfield

1:34 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

What does it mean when they say "if they've got powered devices capable of receiving it" ? Does that mean that if you only operate using candles and a stationary bike you are SOL?

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jmad

5:23 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

is power back on pine street?

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Amaducci

5:54 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

When will mills st power be restored? Any ETA?

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CSS

6:30 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

JCP&L - the only thing unprecedented Is their ongoing lack of proactive maintenance, planning and staffing. Truly unbelievable. Businesses especially need power before goods spoil.

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Vincent Nasilli

7:15 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Pine St. has no power yet, it has been out since 6:30am.

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Donna Lohmeyer

9:43 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Thanks, Vincent. Amazing that it is still out.

jmad

7:25 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

thanks for that update vincent. let us know when it comes back on.

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Alice

8:47 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Anyone have power on Sussex Ave?

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CSS

9:44 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Half up on James st. Not my half though. Will need to eat all ice cream soon.

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Oscar Ponciano

10:44 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Anyone know if the power on MLK Ave. has returned yet?

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Adam

10:46 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011

Does South street have power? I work at J&K steakhouse.

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CSS

12:18 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

I suggest pitchforks and torches for a late night gathering at the ridgedale ave jcpl office/substation. Torches because you can't buy a D-cell battery to save your life. We could kindly ask the workers to pass our concerns on to management.

That place was looking quite dry when I droveby around 6. Would have liked to see much more activity and heavy equipment really

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Adam

12:54 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

Does anyone know it South Street near the green has power?

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Dan

6:57 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

How is that that town government is no where to be seen or heard from in any meaningful way at thus point? Doherty thinks he saw some activity near the substation? Are you kidding? There us no communication with residents at all. These clowns and klutzes wanted to be elected and when we actually need them they are nowhere. How bout an update on the town website on what the hell we can expect. Power restored between Sunday night and Friday is not an estimate, it's an F You from the incompetent.

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jmad

7:09 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

Totally agree w/ Dan. Well said!

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Chris

7:53 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

I reached out to our Council Person before 7 today and got an immediate response on the status (can't shoot the messenger). Frustrating to see lights on in houses that you can walk to, but our power is still off.

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Dan

8:22 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

And what was the status?

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Chris

9:14 am on Monday, August 29, 2011

Not much change - Working with mpd to find out more. For some people they are still hearing "days", with downtown taking longest.

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CC

8:07 pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Was Thompson Street flooded out?

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