Mahwah Preparing for Possible Flooding, Power Outages

Advanced planning and experience during last year’s Hurricane Irene and October snowstorm have prepared Mahwah’s emergency responders for potential flooding, extended power outages and possible evacuations, officials said at an emergency preparedness meeting at the Mahwah Police Station Saturday morning.

“The key to this storm is going to be consistency,” Police Chief James Batelli said at the meeting, which included members of the township's Office of Emergency Management, Mahwah CERT, Fire Department, ambulance, and township government officials. “We need consistent information going both to residents and back and forth with Rockland Electric.”

This year, Batelli said the MPD will be hand-delivering outage messages to Rockland Electric, the utility that serves over 11,000 Mahwah customers. During last year’s storms, faxed reports from the MPD never made it to RE because of power issues, he said.

Orange & Rockland, the company that owns Rockland Electric, said in a release Saturday that it is arranging for at least 400 additional contracted crews to come to the area to deal with what it anticipates will be at least a week of Sandy-related power issues.

To increase communication with residents during the storm, when power outages often affect phone lines, the township launched a new text message alert system that residents can sign up for. The free service sends text message alerts and updates to locals’ cell phones via text message. The service will be in addition to the Swift reverse 911 calls the township makes during emergency situations.

Residents can sign up for the new text messaging service by texting the message “Mahwah1” to the number 888777.

All township departments are planning on extra staffing leading
up to, during and after the storm. Over the weekend, emergency vehicles are being fueled, maintained and checked for usage during Hurricane Sandy.

Officials are closely tracking the storm, which is expected to hit the area Monday night. The Fire Department will have precautions set up in Mahwah’s West Ward, which was hard hit with flooding during Hurricane Irene. Residents in West Mahwah and other problem flooding areas – like Deer Haven, the Polo Club and Glen Gray – are being urged to prepare before the storm hits to either evacuate to a hotel or relative’s house Monday, or be ready to shelter in place.

Town Council President John Spiech said emergency responders are preparing for three phases of response to the potential impacts of the storm – before, during and after.

“We are planning to increase staffing [not only during Hurricane Sandy], but post-storm as well,” Batelli said of all township departments. “We need to look beyond the storm.”

As residents are spending the weekend stocking up on emergency items, ambulance officials reminded residents to have a sufficient supply of any and all medications they need, and anyone who uses oxygen tanks to have supply of extra tanks on hand before the storm hits.

Batelli also warned residents to look out for, and report price gouging, both before and after the storm. “During a State of Emergency or within 30 days of the termination of the State of Emergency it is illegal to sell merchandise at excessive prices - deemed to be 10% higher than the price at which a good or service was sold in the usual course of business,” he said. “Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed can file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or contacting the Mahwah Police Department.”

Price gouging was an issue for many residents after Hurricane Irene last year, Batelli said.

The police department will also be having extra 911 operators on staff throughout its response to Hurricane Sandy to answer an anticipated increased number of calls.

Residents are being urged to call 911 for emergencies only, and for general questions or to share non-emergency information, call the MPD’s main phone number 201-529-1000. Officials say all communications throughout the storm will be routed through the police department to ensure accurate, consistent information going to residents and responders.

“We learned a lot last year, and now we are ready,” Mayor Bill Laforet said. “It is important that residents know the township is prepared, we have everything in place, and for them to know the lines of communication will be open.”

As you are preparing for Sandy, check O&R’s list of preparation tips.

Previous Patch coverage of Hurricane Sandy

• O&R Predicts a Week of Power Issues after Hurricane Sandy
• NJ Transit Shutdown Preparations Underway
• Hurricane Sandy to Shut Down State Parks
• Christie on Hurricane Sandy: 'I Feel Like the Disaster Governor'
• Hurricane Sandy in Mahwah: New Text Message Alert System Part of Preparation Plan
• Evacuations Possible if Hurricane Sandy Hits Bergen County
• Gov. Christie: Prepare for Hurricane Sandy
• Hurricane Sandy Could Make NJ Landfall Monday
• O&R Preps For Possible Hurricane Sandy Power Outages