Community Corner

JCP&L: More Than 1K Still Without Electricity

Company drops powerless estimate early Tuesday morning; police say they haven't heard anything.

UPDATED 2:37 a.m. Tuesday: Jersey Central Power & Light dropped its estimate of Hopatcong customers without electricity to 1,098 early Tuesday morning from 1,742 mid-day Monday. Almost 19,000 Sussex County JCP&L customers were still without power, however, while 43,000 were suffering the same fate in Morris County.

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The good news: Less Hopatcong residents are without electricity than on Sunday. The bad news: The decrease wasn't significant.

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

Jersey Central Power & Light said late Monday afternoon an estimated 1,742 Hopatcong customers were without electricity. That's about 200 less than earlier in the day, as residents like Jessica Georgia Woelk worry about how long the outages will last. In a post to Hopatcong Patch's Facebook page, Woelk said: "Hopefully they make they way towards Brooklyn mountain rd next before my food spoils!!!!!!!"

Hopatcong Police Chief John Swanson said JCP&L had been sending scouting helicopters over the area, but hadn't been contact with the department.

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

"They're not telling us any more than they're telling the general public," Swanson said.

Monday afternoon, Hopatcong water officials set up two large tanks outside fire company No. 3 on Hopatchung road, . The caveat: it's undrinkable.

Hopatcong customers were far from the only ones alone in losing power. JCP&L said an estimated 22,000 Sussex County customers were still without electricity as of Monday evening, including 1,700 in Andover, 700 in Stanhope and 4,000 in Sparta.

JCP&L posted the following message on its website early Monday morning:

"JCP&L is continuing to experience power outages due to the effects of Hurricane Irene. We are assessing damage and anticipate that many of our Customers will be restored in the next several days. In areas with more extensive damage, restoration is expected to continue throughout the week. Please treat all downed wires and damaged electrical equipment as live and dangerous. If you have not already reported your electric service as being out, call 1-888-544-4877."

Hopatcong fire officials said the department had pumped more than 70 flooded basements as of Monday afternoon.

Portions of several Hopatcong roads were still closed Monday, including Indian Trail near the Northwood firehouse and Delaware Avenue off Maxim Drive, due to downed power lines and trees.

Call the Hopatcong police department at (973) 398-5000 with emergencies.


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