Power May Be Back in North, East Wards Friday; Booker Offers Vital Safety Info

Newark Mayor Cory Booker offered frazzled city residents a ray of hope Friday, announcing that power may be restored to much of the North and East wards sometime today.

Booker also strongly urged residents to call the city’s non-emergency number, 973-733-4311, if they are cold, need a hot meal, know of an elderly or sickly neighbor who may be shut in and needs to be checked on, or for virtually any problem other than a “9-1-1”  emergency situation, like a medical crisis, major crime or fire. He also said residents should contact the city regarding any problems they observe, whether it’s a downed power line or a downed stop sign.

“Today could be a good day for power restoration,” Booker said during a press conference at the city’s emergency management headquarters on Clinton Avenue.

As of noon, Booker said power to about half the city’s residents has come back on after being knocked out by Hurricane Sandy Monday. Crews are now close to repairing a circuit that serves the North and East wards that was damaged by Passaic River tidal flooding Monday night.

“That switching station should come back on today,”  Booker said.

He also reminded residents, however, that, small, localized shortages may still not be fixed immediately as power company crews scramble to repair thousands of downed wires and other equipment across the state.

“Pole damage and wire damage are a separate issue,” he said. He also added, however, that the state forestry service is now in the city to help deal with downed trees, which may be the first time it has entered an urban area, Booker also said.

During the press conference, Booker also strongly stressed a series of other important points:

• Traffic accidents have risen “100 percent” since the storm due largely to motorists failing to stop at intersections with non-functioning traffic signals. Booker, describing the issue as “the most dangerous circumstance in Newark,” reminded motorists that by law, they must stop when coming to an intersection without power. He also reminded residents to heed emergency vehicles and to yield to them.

• Booker also said many residents are endangering lives -- especially lives of very young children -- in their attempts to heat and power their homes. Many people using generators are placing them too close to their homes, allowing poisonous carbon monoxide fumes to seep in. Two women lost their lives earlier this week from monoxide fumes given off buy a generator Booker said. Generators should be placed far from homes, Booker he also said, and used with “extreme caution”.

• Some residents without generators are relying on stoves to warm their homes -- which Booker said was also an extremely dangerous carbon monoxide hazard, as well as a fire hazard. In plain terms, Booker said residents should under no circumstances use their ovens for heating; instead, they should pile on additional blankets, come to the city shelter at 211 W. Kinney St. -- which still has room, is pet-friendly, and offers hot showers -- or, at minimum, call the non-emergency line atv 973-433-4311. “If you need blankets I’ll deliver them to your home myself,” he said.

• Candles are also proving to be extreme fire hazard, Booker added. He again urged residents to either use the city shelter or call the non-emergency number for assistance.

• Booker also said even of residents did not want to stay overnight at the city shelter, they could stop in, take a shower, get a warm meal and then leave. 

• Booker said HazMat teams as well as state and federal environmental officials have been assessing the possibility of contamination in the East Ward, where a number of industrial sites were flooded. Homes on Waydell Street have had to be condemned due to flood damage to their foundations, Booker said. He also urged East Ward residents to call 973-733-4311 if they notice any odd odors.

• Booker also urged neighbors to help one another, especially those who have power. You can allow someone to sleep over or just charge up their electronic devices, Booker said.