$1 Million is Initial Estimate on Irene Damage in the Township

Washington Township incurred $1 million in damage from Hurricane Irene, according to initial estimates, Mayor Janet Sobkowicz told councilmen and residents Monday.

She explained that the estimate includes damage in a number of places throught the township, including A&P, which had to discard more than $100,000 worth of food.

According to Sobkowicz, Cpl. Saverio Fasciano, who serves as the township's OEM deputy coordinator, worked to compile the damages to submit to the county shortly after the storm.

The mayor thanked all emergency services personnel and highlighted their work during the storm. From 9:45 a.m. Aug. 27 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 29, Sobkowicz said the police department handled 113 calls, mostly storm related; the ambulance corps responded to 15 calls, most requiring CPR; and the fire department had more than 40 calls, including pumping out water from basements and safeguarding downed power lines.

"I want to thank all our emergency services, employees, residents and vendors for working so hard this year on storm related situations starting with the snow in the beginning of the year until now," Sobkowicz said. "The knowledge and skills they all have and they use to protect our community is really something to see."

The mayor said even with , service was uninterrupted because River Vale picked up the phone calls for two and half hours until a replacement generator was put in place.

Councilman Joseph D'Urso, who also praised the township's emergency personnel, said the generator problem concerned him because when he was in the building, it was extremely hot and two officers had been overcome with carbon monoxide.

"[The generator] is something we really, as a council, need to address," D'Urso said.

Sobkowicz said the township rented a generator the day of the storm from Academy Electric and it remains at the municipal complex until officials get a permanent replacement.