Majority of Town Without Power, Bedminster Mayor Says

The majority of the town is without power as the first day of Hurricane Sandy comes to a close, according to Bedminster Township Mayor Robert Holtaway.

Substations have been damaged, and transformers are down, Holtaway said, along with lots of trees having come down.

And, Holtaway said, the number of roads closed throughout the town are too numerous to name.

"A dozen areas are closed down for trees downed," he said.

Fortunately, Holtaway said, the rain has not been as severe as was expected and Bedminster has not had any trouble with flooding.

But the town has not been as lucky with wind, which has caused many downed trees and branches.

Holtaway said they had advised about 35 homes to be evacuated Sunday, but for those who didn't, it is too late at this point.

"It is now too late for evacuations," he said at 9 p.m. Monday. "It is too hazardous to move, so sit tight and hold tight.

Holtaway said that once the wind dies down to less than 30 miles per hour, they will be able to look into cleanup measures for downed trees and lost power.

"The center of the storm is supposed to leave by 2 a.m.," he said. "It should be a downwind from there."