Crime & Safety

Power Outages Widespread Throughout Borough This Afternoon

Over 2,000 residents don't have power.

UPDATE: 3:54 p.m. Power remains out throughout the borough, though it had been reported it was scheduled to be back on by 3:30 p.m.

The outage is affecting over 2,000 Jersey Central Power & Light customers here, and probably more, according to information provided by the company.

Along Main Street, where there is no power, shop owners sat outside, mingling with one another in the intense heat. Stop signs have been placed at intersections such as North Passaic Avenue and Main Street because traffic lights are out.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jim Young sat with Bernie O'Connor, Arminio's owner Tony Arminio and Gabriella's manager Mike Lloyd outside Gabriella's as they watched traffic attempt to make its way through town.

Young has been in Chatham since 1971. "Main Street has been out, but infrequently," he said. "And never this long."

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lloyd said Main Street isn't usually hit hard by power outages because it is on a strong grid.

Gabriella's ice cream has remained in the freezer since the outage, Lloyd said, and he hasn't been able to open it up for fear cold air would sneak out.

"I can't open it because then the heat gets in and then I lose everything," he said. "I'll probably lose 40 percent anyway."

He called the outage "a disappointing end to a holiday weekend."

According to multiple reports, the power went out at about 1:15 p.m. in the borough. The outage is not affecting homes or buildings in the township, according to township police.

Springfield Mayor Ziad Shehady reported via Twitter the outage was caused by the  Trainer sub-station in Chatham overheating.

Borough police said the outage is widespread and said JCP&L is working on restoring power to those affected.

Specific information on the number of homes affected by the outage was not immediately available. But a map on JCP&L's Web site said the number was between 2,000 and 5,000.

Borough police said this afternoon they did not have any information about when power would be back.

The outage is not only affecting Chatham. Many homes in Summit are without power, according to police communications, and Overlook Hospital is running with limited power. There have also been reports of power outages in Springfield and Millburn.

New Jersey Transit trains along the Morris & Essex lines have been delayed for close to 30 minutes. There have been multiple brush fires along train tracks in New Providence near the Summit border.

The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert is in effect throughout the area today because of excessive heat.

Businesses that sell food—such as Gabriella's and Arminio's, which sells Italian food and pizza—are not the only ones that have been affected. Chatham Sports Shop owner Skip McCabe was also sitting outside his store this afternoon, and said it had been worth opening up today. The shop, he said, had been on its way to a plus day.

Then the outage struck. "This is like a neutron bomb," he said.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.


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