Paramus Prepares for Worst, Hopes for Best with Hurricane Sandy

Paramus officials have begun preparing for the worst over the next few days as the borough waits to see what impact Hurricane Sandy will have on the retail mecca of Bergen County.

"We're going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said.

Guy Picone, Emergency Management Coordinator for the Borough issued orders on Friday that all emergency vehicles be fueled and equipment serviced and be ready to work once Sandy hits.

"All of the generators and vehicles are fueled and ready to go," Picone said. Picone is also the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works as well. "All of the equipment, the pumps and chainsaws are being serviced today in advance."

The Department of Public Works has also begun clearing storm drains of any debris, blockages in the brooks and picking up as many leaves as possible.

Residents of Dunkerhook Road, Syklark Court, Mill Run and Grist Trail havefaced evacuation in the past as the roads are in close proximity to the Saddle River, and the bridge leading to Dunkerhook Road and Skylark Court can become flooded.

"We'll continue to monitor the weather," Picone said. "All of the guys have been put on notice to work."

As of Friday morning, the Saddle River in Lodi was measured at 2.09 feet with a flood stage of six feet, according to the National Weather Service, which estimated that the river could reach 2.1 feet by Sunday morning and just under three feet by Monday. The Saddle River extends up to Paramus and runs through Dunkerhook Park.

Picone advised residents to visit the FEMA website for tips on preparing for the hurricane, including preparing an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, radio, extra flashlights and batteries. He also suggested checking that the batteries in alarm systems like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors still have power.

In addition, residents who take prescription medication should make sure they have enough to last a few days, Picone said.

Sandy, which has the potential to turn into a nor'easter has it converges with an early winter storm in the West and a blast of arctic air from the North, would hit the area Sunday and increase through Tuesday.

There is a high chance of rain beginning on Saturday but only measuring less than a quarter of an inch. The heaviest rainfall has been projected to hit the area on Monday and Tuesday but abating by Wednesday.

The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management issued a press release estimating four to nine inches of rain through Wednesday. In addition,there is a full moon on Monday which would rise local tides higher than normal, increasing the chances of river flooding. Winds could be sustained at 70 miles per hour with heavier gusts, according to the National Weather Service. 

PSE&G has also begun preparing for Sandy by arranging for contractors to assist their own work force, testing generators and any locations that are in flood prone areas.

To report downed wires or power outages, customers should call PSE&G’s Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account at pseg.com. General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.

In addition, if outages are widespread, the utility will activate its Twitter page to keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at twitter.com/psegdelivers to monitor restoration progress.

To prepare for the impending storm, residents are advised: 

• Register for NIXLE by clicking here.
• Anyone taking any prescription medication that's running low refill them now
• People with special needs (or caregivers on their behalf) are encouraged to register with Register Ready -- New Jersey's Special Needs Registry for Disasters -- through  www.registerready.nj.gov.  Alternatively, they can call New Jersey’s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service. This service will register people, offer free translation, and provide TTY services for the hearing-impaired.
• Stock up on ready-to-eat foods and bottled water.
• Have a contingency plan for your pet should you need to evacuate. Click here for NJOEM's emergency plan for your pet.  

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