Tuesday: Latest Update from the Village of South Orange

This is not a full recap of the storm timeline & cleanup efforts in South Orange but an attempt to quickly relay timely & important information to residents regarding present status
 
Important information to know
 
Debris
Residents should continue moving fallen debris curbside. The Department of Public Works will be collecting fallen debris and branches curbside until everything is clear. No appointment is necessary for debris removal.
 
Power
There were over 700,000 NJ residents without power at peak, over 200,000 of them PSEG customers. South Orange residents are still reporting power outages, even as many of them have come back online in the past 24 hours. South Orange is in constant communication with PSEG to ensure a timely response to power outages in town, and residents are urged to contact PSEG to report outages, and check on the status at: 1-800-436 7734.
 
Water
Water in South Orange is 100% safe to drink. Various surrounding communities get water from surface reservoirs that were contaminated from wastewater overflow. South Orange’s water supply was entirely unaffected by this, does not need boiling, and is 100% safe to drink or for any use.
 
Public Safety
Areas in town without power have had extra patrols added by the South Orange Police Department, as a precaution, although no increase in crime events related to the storm have been reported in areas with power outages.
 
Damaged furniture
The Village has scheduled an additional container day at the Public Works Yard on Saturday, September 3rd from 8 am to 4 pm where residents can bring bulky items damaged in the storm.  Residents may discard unwanted household items at the DPW Yard at 300 Walton Avenue. Special disposal containers will be provided. Container Days are limited to residents of South Orange only. Two forms of ID are required for proof. No commercial vehicles are permitted. For information call (973) 378- 7741.

Permissible Disposals: Furniture or mattresses, appliances, branches under four inches in diameter, metal items, toys, small household items, tools, strollers, and playpens. Note: metals and appliances must be separated from other household items.

Non-Permissible Disposals: Paint cans* (empty or not), propane bottles*, any hazardous chemicals or their containers, construction materials, grass clippings, household garbage, car/truck parts, batteries of any size*, stumps, root sections, branches measuring more than four inches in diameter, and railroad ties. DPW staff will prohibit other items as necessary.
 
More information and a more detailed timeline and recap of the storm and cleanup will be released shortly.

 
Alex Torpey, Village President (atorpey@southorange.org)
John O. Gross, Emergency Management Coordinator (jgross@southorange.org)