Verona families lost sleep last night from Hurricane Irene, but, thankfully, not too much else.
The storm, which made landfall in New Jersey at Little Egg Harbor around 5 a.m., has cut power in out in several areas of Verona–Colin Boyle, who lives off Lakeside, reports that his went out at about 4 a.m.–and MyVeronaNJ.com readers are reporting a lot of wet basements. The Peckman river, which normally barely merits the designation “river”, overflowed its banks, covering the yards on Derwent and Park Place closest to Bloomfield Avenue. Sean Kirby sent the picture at right of the Peckman this morning, and a video clip that shows water covering Bloomfield Avenue.
As of 7 a.m., PSE&G said 233,000 of its customers were without power and Verona’s Floyd Cardoz was among them. “Dear Gov Cuomo,” he tweeted, “took your advice, stayed home, got a book. Unfortunately can’t read it as I have no #electricity!” The total for Jersey City Power & Light, which covers the central park of the state, is around 50,000. The storm moved rapidly across New Jersey and Long Island. Kurt Siegelin, a Verona resident who is also the anchor for News12 New Jersey, reported that as of 7 a.m., that the rain had stopped south of Tom’s River.
Verona’s Public Works Department was out much of the night, clearing downed tree limbs from streets. “Verona’s public works crew is amazing,” said Steve Janett in a Facebook shout-out. “And huge kudos to Chuck Molinaro, who has taken calls at any time to assit residents with storm preparation.” Janett, whose building at the corner of Park Place and Bloomfield Avenue sustained substantial damage in a storm last October, brought in sandbags ahead of Irene.
Verona Police urged residents to stay home. “Please use caution if you must go outside,” the VPD said via Facebook this morning, “as there are many trees and wires down. DO NOT Touch any wires, just because they are not jumping around does not mean they are not dangerous. If at all possible please stay at home.” New Jersey’s 511 traffic system is reporting flooding on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions north of Interchange 11 and there is standing water on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge Township.
The tornado watch issued by the National Weather Service late yesterday has been cancelled but a flood warning remains in effect for the Passaic River near the Home Depot in Pine Brook.
