Out Of Power? Here’s A List Of Cooling, Charging Centers Nearby

HOWELL, NJ – Two days after Tropical Storm Isaias rattled the state, over 101,000 in Monmouth County residents are still without power. Amid a restoration effort that could take days, according to the power authority, several municipalities have opened public cooling centers where locals can beat the heat and charge their devices.

Here’s where you can cool off in Monmouth County:

• Colts Neck: Town Hall is providing charging centers, the local library and both fire stations.
• Highlands: Sung Harbor Community Center has opened a cooling and charging station.
• Howell: The main meeting room at the municipal building on Route 9 North is open as a cooling center, as well as Ardena Baptist Church. The Howell Senior Center is only open to senior residents.
• Marlboro: The town recreation center is open for cooling and charging.
• Neptune: the local library, the town marina and the town’s senior center have all opened as cooling centers.

JCP&L is also handing out free water and ice to out-of-power locals. Here is where you can pick up:

• Acme Supermarkets, 576 River Rd., Store 7949, Fair Haven
• Acme Supermarkets, 3241 Route 9, Store 7960, Freehold
• Acme Supermarkets, 990 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls
• Acme Supermarkets, 2007 Route 35, Wall
• Food Circus, 1560 Route 35, Store 269, Ocean Twp
• Food Circus, 2204 Route 35 & Sea Girt Ave, Store 268, Sea Girt
• Food Circus, 9 Route 36, Bayshore Plaza, Store 266, Atlantic Highlands
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 3585 Hwy 9, Freehold
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 280 Hwy 9 N, Morganville
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 2200 Asbury Ave., Neptune 07753
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., Routes 36 & 71, West Long Branch 07764
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 1151 Shrewsbury Ave., Shrewsbury 07722
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 318 Lloyd Rd., Aberdeen
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 3140 State Hwy 35, Hazlet 07730
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 4594 Rt 9 S, Howell 07731
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 2445 Rt 34, Wall 07719
• Saker ShopRites, Inc., 1801 Route 35, Wall Twp.

Howell Township was one of many Monmouth municipalities hit particularly badly by Tropical Storm Isaias, with over 77 percent of area residents out of power at the height of the storm. 9,797 homes are still out of power as of 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

During the storm itself, the Howell Township Police Department reportedly received so many 9-1-1 calls that the department had to instruct residents not to call for non-emergencies.

"Howell Police 9-1-1 Communications Center is handling multiple 9-1-1 calls every second. Yes, every second," the police department wrote on its Facebook page Tuesday evening. "This includes emergencies throughout Monmouth and Ocean County. Please do not call for non emergencies such as power outages and tree branches down. We are aware and need to prioritize responses."

In a video update on Wednesday, mayor Theresa Berger announced that seven traffic lights in the township were still non-operational. Six roadways were also closed off as of Wednesday afternoon.

Water is also available at the Squankum Firehouse, Adelphia Fire House, Howell Department of Public Works and the rear lot of the township municipal building.

Aug. 10 will see another brush pickup organized by the town, due to “the crazy amount of trees that have fallen from the storm,” according to Berger.

Limbs cannot be longer than eight feet, and must be seated the same way for collection. No leaf piles will be collected, according to Berger.

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