Sandy Aftermath: A Week of Devastation

Monday

• 
  This is the first report we received of power outages in Hopatcong and Sparta during Hurricane Sandy at about 8 p.m. on Monday night. The power outages increased from here, knocking 100 percent out in Hopatcong, and about 97 percent in Sparta on Tuesday.
• Hopatcong High School Open For Shelter
  The high school opened for a shelther at about 11 p.m. Monday night during the storm, as more residents began to experience power outages as trees and wires started falling around their properties.
• Sparta Cop Not Hurt After Fallen Trees Trap Him in Car
  Sparta Police said Officer Jeffery McCarrick escaped injury after he was trapped in his patrol car for about a half-hour when two trees fell on the vehicle. Police said McCarrick was traveling on Lafayette Road to a report of a tree that had fallen into a West Shore Trail home.

Tuesday

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  The storm left 100 percent of Hopatcong without power the morning after Sandy pummeled through the northeast. JCP&L and DPW crews began working on the streets cleaning up the downed wires and trees.
• Sandy Rips Through Sparta [Photos]
  Devastating photos of some of the aftermath in Sparta taken on Tuesday.

Wednesday

• Residents Head to High School to Escape 'Warzone'
  We caught up with some residents who were at the Hopatcong High School shelter the day after Sandy. Some residents who went had homes destroyed, others just wanted to stay warm and eat.
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  This is the first report we heard of power being restored in both towns. Sparta had some power back in businesses around town center and in Lake Mohawk on Wednesday evening.
• 100 Percent Still Without Power in Hopatcong
  As of Wednesday, police said the borough was still completely without power as JCP&L and DPW crews continued to work to clean up debris.

Thursday

• Hopatcong Mayor: 'Most Important Thing Is We Have Food and Shelter'
  Mayor Petillo said residents should use the high school shelter for warmth and food, as the whole borough remained completely without power. The Red Cross has been donating cots, food, and other items for the residents in need.
• 
  Sparta Police posted several important notices for residents, including how residents should conserve water and how to safely dispose brush.
• Hopatcong Teachers: Tell Us What You Need
  Hopatcong teachers got together and started reaching out for help and donations for residents at the high school shelter.

Friday

• Tree Crushes Teen's Leg During Sandy Cleanup
  A 19-year-old Green Township resident was seriously injured in Sparta on Thursday when he was using a chainsaw to clean up a few trees, and the lower section of one of the trees snapped back and smashed his lower left leg, police said.
• 
  Borough officials said they are working with Stanhope to share resources, information, and OEM personnel to get through the Sandy aftermath together.
• Voting for Tuesday Set in Hopatcong and Sparta
  Despite the devastating aftermath of Tropical Storm Sandy while many residents still remain without power, voting on Tuesday will still go on, with several polling locations revised.

Read all of our Hopatcong-Sparta Sandy coverage here.