By interviewing line workers in utility trucks yesterday, Holmdel Mayor Patrick Impreveduto learned that a huge area of Holmdel -- from Crawfords Corner Road to the area west of Route 34 -- was supposed be back online yesterday.
But they encountered some kind of unexplained problem and the electricity was not restored, he said.
"It was supposed to be up and running last night," said the mayor today around 11 a.m. He said the trucks seen massing at Holmdel High School have been being dispatched to various locations in the township to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy, but if winds build in advance of the nor'easter to more than 40 mph, workers will have to withdraw.
The mayor put out a Code Red message to residents moments earlier, informing them that Town Hall is closed for the rest of the week, and that a 24-hour relief center at the Community Center will open at noon.
He wanted to assure residents that Holmdel officials are "doing everything humanly possible to get everything restored."
"Once this storm is over I will continue to demand JCP&L give us answers," said Impreveduto, who has personally not had power restored for more than a week. Like many in southern Holmdel, he is double-jinxed because electricity powers their household well water access.
He dismissed a FirstEnergy outage map that says 30 percent of Holmdel is without power. "There is no way in God's creation that 70 percent have power in Holmdel. These figures haven't been accurate since the beginning," he said.
Patch's attempts to reach JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano have not been successful.
Local politicians have no authority over where JCP&L sends their crews, so don't shoot the messenger. And why don't you tell your neighbors to take down their tress that hang above power lines. That's where the real problem is!
Thanks mayor we know you are trying
Maybe the Mayor dosen't have power to answer your questions. Maybe he can't access his email. He said Sunday he has no power and water
Washington Township Mayor Ken Short lashed out at the utility saying he was "totally fed up by (JCP&L) and their lies and their lack of service. All they do is supply power and they can't even do that right." State Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) said the information provided in conference call with local officials and utilities was too generic. In a comment by Mountain Lakes Mayor Charles Gormally, the commenter said he agreed with Bucco, and "the command and control of the management of JCP&L has not been properly organized to communicate and address the widespread devastation that we have sustained. Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire issued a statement calling JCP&L’s response to Hurricane Sandy in the northern part Somerset county "abysmal," members told residents they "share in your frustration with JCP&L's lack of communication and information. Morris Township officials said they "began demanding a comprehensive restoration plan from JCP&L once the storm subsided. To date we only have projected restorations by municipality for each day." But despite pressure from several municipalities, "JCP&L is unwillingly (sic) to provide to us or any municipality at this time, Interesting only Mayor Pat is fighting for us. Assembly, Freeholders we can't hear you
surrounding communities. I'll be intently watching to see how our elected officials hold JCP&L accountable in the ensuing weeks and months.
http://jcplshowusthemoney.org/
They do have a chance now to show how hey are capable of leading, which I am sure they are, by organizing and leading the charge for Holmdel to hold JCP&L accountable. Don't ask residents to call individually, don't ask residents to call the assemblyman etc...ask the residents to join with him and the town leadership in a collective organized fashion to pursue action against JCP&L. I am sure that with the outrage felt by the town in this horrendous situation of mismanagement they will get full support of the township. But..time has a way of making memories short and now is the time to organize and pursue and more importantly lead.
For the first week, we received a letter in the mail from the Mayor and Committeeman Ponisi visited the firehouse on Rt 520 to deliver the next day's mailer and answer questions from residents. Then we would receive at least one call a day from the Mayor explaining what is going on. This problem is JCP&L, so for you spoiled Democrats, stop blaming the local Township Committee and come together as a community so that real reform of JCP&L can take place.
Glad your power came back..mine came back Friday....was able to move my family back in over the weekend after 2 weeks.
And, I was probably resgistered Republican before you were born.
And the reform that I talk about are the changes that I'm sure Gov. Christie will put in place as the backbone of his campaign for Governor.