Politics & Government

Township Adds Warming Shelter as Outages Persist

Substations which service power to the township require significant repairs.

Previous estimates from JCP&L of power restoration in Chatham Township were inaccurate, according to a statement from Township Mayor Nicole Hagner.

"Unfortunately the numbers put up by JCP&L yesterday and published [through] Nixle were inaccurate. We are trying to get accurate numbers and
locations through JCP&L," Hagner said.

According to the outage map at the First Energy website, 2,680 homes in Chatham Township remain without power as of 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

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

"Our main issue is that the Green Village substation and Traynor substation were substantially damaged, and primary lines feeding in [and] out are still being restored," Hagner said.

Those two substations provide power to most of the township, and power cannot be restored until those substations are repaired.

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

"Chatham Township lost 100 percent of its power as a result of the storm. The borough did not and Madison has its own power utility, so we cannot compare our situation to other towns," Hagner said.

Line crews are at work in town restoring downed wires and reconnecting homes so when the substations return to full capacity there will be no further delay in restoring electricity to homes.

"We have been successful in sourcing additional crews through JCP&L to dedicate exclusively to our town, but the township [cannot] work, or hire anyone to work, on the power lines," Hagner said.

The Chatham Township Municipal Building will open Monday for the first time since Tropical Storm Sandy hit. Part of the building will be open as a warming and charging station for township residents.

Other charging stations open to township residents include the Chatham Emergency Squad building on Spring Street, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those going to the building are asked to park in the Colony tennis court parking lot.

Township residents can also use the Madison Area YMCA from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday for showers. The YMCA asks that residents bring their own towels and toiletries.

Hagner also released other information for township residents:

  • There are currently no plans for curbside debris pickup. Residents should separate leaves and branches and bring both to the Tanglewood center daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Mennen Arena, 161 Hanover Ave., Morris Township.
  • Polling places have been consolidated in Chatham Township due to power outages. Residents from districts 1 through 5 will vote at the Green Village Fire Department. Residents from districts 6 through 10 will vote at the Chatham Township Fire Department on River Road. Your district number is printed on the sample ballot mailed to your home.
  • Halloween house-to-house trick-or-treating has been rescheduled to Saturday.


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