Maplewood's Power Not Expected Back Soon, Mayor Says
Mayor DeLuca is "disappointed" by PSE&G timetable. Also: updates on street clearings, garbage collection and more.
“I am even more disappointed” than before at PSE&G’s most recent estimates of when power will be restored to Maplewood Township, said Mayor Vic DeLuca.
DeLuca’s gloomy assessment came Wednesday afternoon, after a regional conference call with the power company.
“They have not yet released a timetable for residential restoration,” said DeLuca.
There are roughly 9,000 customers without power in Maplewood. PSE&G has been telling customers in Essex County to expect that it will take another seven to ten days to restore residential power.
“We are cautiously optimistic that it will be shorter than that,” said DeLuca. He said while he understands that the utility company has to restore electrical substations, and then transmission lines, before beginning to restore residences, “we just don’t think it’s happening fast enough.”
DeLuca also noted that while the Department of Public Works had cleared many main streets and intersections -- including Maplewood Avenue, and Prospect Street all the way to South Orange -- there were still streets blocked with trees involving downed power lines.
The township could not begin to clear those streets until they received authorization from PSE&G that it was safe to do so. (Streets still closed because of downed wires include the intersection of Parker and Valley, and Boyden Avenue.)
“We asked (PSE&G) for better coordination between us and them. We are stymied until then,” he said. PSE&G said they were hoping to send work crews to Maplewood, but it was unclear when that would happen. “We are keeping on them,” said DeLuca.
DeLuca also said he impressed upon PSE&G the need to prioritize restoring power to polling sites in time for next week’s election.
In other update news, DeLuca said Waste Management will pick up garbage on Thursday and Friday, and are asking customers to put garbage cans on the curb so sanitation workers do not need to go into backyards.
The shelter at DeHart Center continues to stay open and has heat. Roughly a dozen people displaced by the storm stayed there on Tuesday night.
Also, the Mayor and other township officials visited the residents at the Irvington Avenue Senior Building, which has no power, and will bring them food later today.
Teddy Higer-Paris
4:28 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
South Orange and Maplewood Schools and offices are closed Thursday (11/1) and Friday (11/2)
Richard Murphy
4:28 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
way to go PSE&G love your efforts
Richard Murphy
4:28 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
way to go PSE&G love your efforts
Ingrid Nagy
7:51 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I am not on top of total # households and what % are affected, but could it be we don't have enough for the work involved to create good media coverage, so deprioritized?
I am curious about those, including myself that lost power - I have never lost power in a storm before, so love to hear if all of it is downed wires , or transformers- or what...
Joey Knoxs
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Get my power up please my elderly wife is dying on life support on rutger street!!!
Carolyn Maynard-Parisi
9:44 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Joey, have you called Maplewood Police? They can help you get your wife to the hospital. You should call 911.
Diane Fish
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Businesses on Springfield Ave are suffering. Why isn't that a consideration?
Darnel Moore
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I find it to be funny that I live next to pse&g in maplewood and they can't provide permission to clear the tree right next door to its own facility???
Joey Knoxs
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
PSE&G help us please I am asking as a block in th dark help us!!!!!!
Rujokin
9:43 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Why is it that many surrounding area have power? Downtown Maplewood is powered. People posted on another site seeing PSE&G trucks parked in Kmarts parking lot doing nothing? Oh did I mention coffee shop there! Sub-contractors brought in from many different states to aid, hmm good money to be made here at a slow pace.
I've been out a few times seeking a store that may be in operation, I've not seen one PSE&G vehicle on the road, nor anyone working on lines or anything else here on Springfield Ave.
James MacDonell
9:55 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
so PSEG crews can't take a few minutes to eat?
instead of complaining that they are taking a moment to warm up, bring them a coffee or a hot meal. you may find that they ask you what street you live on and get to work on your street 1st
Rujokin
1:18 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Certainly people should be allowed to eat/break. This source said they drove by at 12:30 am then at 2;00 am. That's a long break.... aye?
So basically you're saying I should bribe PSE&G to come and fix my block by offering them coffee? Hello they are being paid quite well. This is the problem with society today.. Sigh.
Michelle
1:18 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Maplewood resident seeking info regarding dry ice or any assistance being given and where.
Michelle
1:18 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I called the non emergency mum posted on the town website and I was told I had the Wrong Number, too funny
Lisa mcFarlin
2:01 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I have a business in Maplewood, ill be glad when they tell the truth about restoration in the neighborhood.
Rujokin
5:14 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
At this time PSE&G is saying Monday for restoration. It could worse, like having no place to live at all.
Andre
5:14 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I have a child, still No power! Wtf is going on PSEG....boyden ave still have no power
Alexandra
10:51 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Please PSEG try to work soon is possible I work at elmwood ave at assisting living facility and is very cold for them pleaseee in name of God
Kristen James
5:41 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Maplewood Residents, I bet our governor has power!