'What a Mess': Freak Storm Makes Big Event

Nearly 48 hours after a rare October snowstorm battered the region, thousands remain without power, and residents are still digging out streets in Verona and Cedar Grove, many of which are still covered with shattered tree limbs and downed power lines.

On Fairview Avenue in Verona, several large trees fell across the roadway, forcing motorists to take turns navigating around the giant obstacles. On some streets, like on Beech Street in Cedar Grove, trees seemed to have exploded from the weight of the snow, sending tree limbs of all sizes onto yards and the roadway.

On Sunday night, when thousands of residents were plunged into darkness because of the storm, Verona and Cedar Grove officials jointly agreed to open the Verona Community Center on Bloomfield Avenue as a shelter.

Jim Cunningham, Verona's recreation director, said Monday that some residents had taken advantage of the community center, which has an array of surge protectors in its ball room to allow residents to charge their phones or computers, however, the center itself has been on emergency generator power since Saturday evening, and does not currently have heat or Internet.

"This is much worse than the last storm. It looked like a war zone out there," he said.

Cunningham said the community center will remain open until 4 p.m. today for residents to recharge electronics, and that the need to re-open the center as a shelter will be determined on a day-to-day basis.

Cunningham said that although only one person spent the night at the center Sunday night, many have been trickling in to charge their personal electronics, which for many is the only source of communication after the storm.

Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet said Monday that despite operating on generator power since Saturday evening, the Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad continued taking emergency calls for the storm's duration.

"With the assistance of our emergency responders we were able to keep things going and answer all emergency calls even in the worst of circumstances, and we were able to operate somewhat effectively. We've had hundreds of downed wires and trees. The trees still had leaves on them, so the weight of the snow was just too much for the branches to take. There has been tremendous amounts of damage, but so far no injuries," he said.

Cedar Grove resident Edwin Andujar, who was shoveling snow at his mother-in-law's Myrtle Avenue driveway Monday morning, said he and his family sought refuge in her home after they lost power and heat on Saturday night.

"We had lit candles in the house but the kids got scared.. and they wanted to watch television," he said, laughing.

Andujar said the storm was "amazing", and expressed hope that the warm days ahead this week will thaw out the remaining snow for a return to normalcy.

On Sunset Avenue in Verona, Verona Public Works employees were busy with chainsaws, removing large sections of several large fallen trees and feeding them into township mulching trucks. The sound of chainsaws grinding against thick branches could be heard all over town.

Bob Misuro, a Sunset Avenue resident, said the storm was "Worse than Hurricane Irene."

"In 54 years this is the worst weather event I've ever seen," he said as he dragged remnants of heavy trees to the curb.

"The weather service said this would be a minor event, we have trees down all over the place and streets blocked off. This is a disaster."

Schools in both Verona and Cedar Grove were closed on Monday, and officials in Cedar Grove announced last night that trick-or-treating . In Verona, Police are asking parents not to send their kids out for Halloween tonight due to dangerous conditions, and have said extra patrols will be on duty Friday night for people interested in trick-or-treating.

Check back with Patch for updates as they become available.