Update: Paramus Schools Closed Monday

Updated 2:30 p.m.: Paramus Public Schools will be closed on Monday after the an October snowstorm left tree limbs littered on many streets and power out in many parts of town.

Acting Superintendent Jospeh Lupo said Sunday afternoon that he hadn't received any reports of damage to schools, but was concerned about the prospect of students walking to school with many Paramus streets still a mess.

Neighborhoods along Farview Avenue were some of the worst affected. Januz and Dorothy Marchlewskia have lived on the corner of Circle and Gorden drives for nearly 17 years.

Sunday night, one of the limbs on an oak tree in front of their house collapsed under the weight of the snow and its leaves, not yet shorn in late October. The limb dragged down a set of wires hanging across Circle Drive, leaving them dangling low across the street.

"This time it just couldn't survive the weight," Dorothy said.

told Dorothy not to touch the tree because of the potentially live wires. The limb didn't damage the house, but another branch fell on a car in the Marchlewskias' driveway.

The storm not only left the couple without power, but derailed their Sunday plans as well. The Marchlewskias were on their way to a baby shower that was supposed to be at Bensi, but was moved because of the power outages in Paramus.

"I've been in this country for 47 years," Dorothy said. "Never in 47 years has there been snow in October."

Further west on Circle Drive, a Shade Tree crew was breaking down branches in a wood chipper. Chris Petronzio, who has worked for the Borough for nearly 12 years, said the storm's timing was unlucky.

"If you had this storm three weeks later, chances are, the level of damage wouldn't have happened," he said.

On the east side of Farview Avenue, Daniel Lui chopped up a large branch and moved it to the side of Concord Drive. His power had gone out at 5 p.m. Saturday, but his home hadn't been damaged by any falling branches.

"I know we've been fortunate," Lui said.

A wire hung low across one part of Concord Drive. In another, a tree limb was caught in wires, dangling precariously over the westbound lane of the street.

Sunday night, Halloween Eve, is Mischief Night, or Cabbage Night. PSE&G issued a release at 2:30 p.m. warning parents not to let their children out, due to the downed wires in many areas.

More than 5,000 people were still without power in Paramus at 3 p.m.

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Updated 12:21 p.m.: Mayor Richard LaBarbiera declared Saturday's snowstorm "one of the worst storms that we've had."

Farview Avenue between Carlough Drive and Farview Terrace remains due to a fallen tree across the roadway that tangled up wires. Several traffic lights are out, and LaBarbiera said they wouldn't be operational until PSE&G restored power.

The Borough has sent the utility a report listing all the downed wires in town. At seven pages long, with about 30 locations a page, LaBarbiera believes there are more than 200 downed wires in Paramus.

PSE&G advised the Borough that crews from Atlantic County are headed to Paramus to help with the cleanup effort, LaBarbiera said.

The mayor counted Circle Drive, Sherwood Drive, Buttonwood Drive, Morningside Road and Concord Drive as among the worst-hit streets in Paramus, though he said the entire town had seen damage. LaBarbiera said it was lucky that the storm hit on a weekend, rather than on a school day.

Most businesses are closed on Sundays anyway, but always-open businesses like Dunkin' Donuts and Whole Foods were closed Sunday morning.

The New Jersey State Police said Bergen Regional Medical Center was operating on a backup generator.

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The Borough declared a state of emergency Saturday night after a snowstorm caused widespread power outages in Paramus.

Under the declaration, any non-essential traffic is not permitted, effective 9 p.m. Saturday. Street parking is also not allowed, and any unoccupied vehicles parked on the street may be removed, the declaration said.

PSE&G reported that between 5,000 and 10,000 customers were still without power in Paramus Sunday morning. About 271,000 of its customers were experiencing outages statewide.

"Utility crews have been working through the night to assess the damage from fallen trees and branches and begin the restoration process," the statement said. "Because of the number of damaged trees and downed power lines, the utility is advising that full restoration for some customers may not occur until Wednesday."

The sent out advisories saying that PSE&G crews ere in the area working to restore power. Shade Tree workers are also out clearing streets of downed trees and limbs, police said.

The National Weather Service said the storm dropped nearly 4 inches of snow on the area, but not to expect anymore. Sunday's forecast called for winds between 11 and 15 miles per hour and a high of 49 degrees.

Have any storm photos? Upload them to Paramus Patch. Have any news tips? Let me know at myles.ma@patch.com.