What Green Brook Residents Need to Know Today

Some progress has been made in the local battle against the power outage caused by Hurricane Sandy, though not enough for most. Here's what you need to know today:

1. Power restored to some Green Brook neighborhoods.

Route 22 has power again from the Bridgewater border to about Warrenville Road, including the neighborhoods north of the road. JCP&L reports service restored to all of its customers (about 86 in Green Brook), but PSE&G hasn't gotten below its 2,001 number the company has shown all week.

2. Temperatures are dropping—visit the warming center

The township municipal building will be open as a warming center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as long as the power outages continue. The township could use some help with the center, though—if you can volunteer a few hours to help residents coming in, call 732-968-1023, ext. 6602, and let them know. 

The building also has running water to refill supplies, and bathrooms for public use.

3. Food and water available, too.

You can also pick up "Ready to Eat Meals" is you don't have power, while at the municipal building. The township's supply is on a first-come, first served basis, so don't be too late.  

If you are, however, head to the Somerset County Public Works Yard, at 410 Roycefield Road in Hillsborough, where you can get ready-to-eat meals, water or Ice from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. 

4. Check your license plate to see if you can get gas.

Under the new gas rationing orders, those whose last number on their license plate is odd can get gas after noon. That should cut waits down...a little.

The Green Brook stations have been popular, and some have run out of gas. Try the Delta gas station on Somerset Street in Watchung, or the station at Warren Automotive on Mt. Bethel Road in Warren (near the Starbucks), or Warren Exxon further up the road. 

5. Downed lines can still be dangerous
Utility companies and township officials remind residents to avoid contact with any downed power lines. Why? Even though the power is out, many lines have levels of electricity in them from the solar panels installed on utility—depending on the number of panels still connected to the wire, the amount of electricity could be dangerous.
And there's always the possibility the power will come on just as you're touching it... 

This article was edited to correct an error in the extent of power restoration.