It is nice to hear some form of communication from the mayor.

If 60% of the people in town have power, then 40% do not. This was a violent storm, but there is no excuse for the fact that there are so few emergency workers on our towns streets and that It is 5 days and counting.

It's nice that your focus is on getting the schools up and running, but If you are one of those 40%, you are most likely a bit frustrated at this point. It would be nice to know that the mayor is pushing JCP&L to actually commit crews to his town and get the rest of their job done before Wednesday, or prior to two weeks from now.

After this mess is cleaned up, what will be done to:
1. pressure JCP&L to fix the power grid in our town to make it more stable (some parts of town are very fragile and minor winds, let alone strong winds cause outages)
2. create a better means to communicate what our town leaders are doing to help us in times of power emergencies.

Thank you for your service and willingness to help our town.

I'm One of the 40 percent! Unreal! And how do you expect my kids to go to school when I have no power? Unreal! Two weeks?? No I want my power on now!! I'm angry and tired if this already!!

With the challenges of no internet, land line phone outages and unreliable cell service it certainly has been difficult to get information to our residents. My suggestion would be to stop by the High School and use the wi-fi to sign up for our nixle service. The reason I stated that getting the schools up is a priority is that they are dispersed among our Township. It stands to reason that if a school come back on line then the surrounding homes will come up as well. Your Township Officials and Office of Emergency Management are continuing to press JCPL and the other utilities to get service restored. This will not happen soon enough for those who remain without power nor your elected officials. I would personally like to thank our first responders who have been working long hard hours to maintain your safety and security. Additionally the flood of calls I have received from residents commending the Township employees for their exceptional response has been overwhelming. This combined with our army of citizen volunteers has made a catastrophic situation more bearable.
I encourage those who would like to donate food to drop it at the High School.
Thank you to all who are pitching in to help. I understand the frustration of those still without power. I encourage you to take advantage of the facilities at the High School. The utility crews are tired but continue to make progress each day. We will pull through this tragendy just as we did last year.

Please take advantage of the shelters. We did at the beginning of the storm and the volunteers at the Pine Brook Firehouse could not do enough! We warmed up and charged our electronics, watched the news on TV and although we did not take advantage, we could have eaten a hot meal and/or showered. We even donated halloween candy, hot cups, boxes of tea and boxes of sugar. We all have to step up and help out our neighbors in this time of crisis. The entire state is in the same boat and while frustrations are high and patience is low, everyone is working as fast as they can under very challenging circumstances. _

I too am one of the 40% with out power and very few trucks have been on the road to asses the situation. This is a main road in town and it is always out far longer than many other smaller roads. Return to normal? With no power or water that seems difficult. The daycare in town also remains in the dark so childcare is
another issue. Nevermind trying to explain to employers the situation. I understand that this was a major storm but to still have almost half of the town out 6 days later with an expected return of an additional two weeks added to the gas problem, is simply unacceptable. Please stop boasting how well every thing is turning out. Just because you keep saying it doesn't make it so.

I do not doubt that our utility crews are doing everything possible to restore power to all parts of the town, and that our mayor, council, and emergency workers are all doing everything in their power. I would urge our neighbors to be patient. We are without power and, yes, it is enormously inconvenient. But we are all alive and no one is starving or freezing to death. Eventually the downed trees will be cleaned up, damage repaired, power restored, and Sandy will be a memory -a source of stories to tell our children and grandchildren. That is not the case for so many people in NJ coastal communities who have lost everything. My family and I are trying to weather this with the kind of strength and positive attitude our son Adrian demonstrated after losing his legs to a Taliban IED last year. Complaining helps no one and nothing, least of all ourselves.

The situation is simply unacceptable? What does that even mean? The worst storm in our history just knocked us for a loop. Perhaps you may want to consider installing a generator. Cold and dark here also, but each day I see another neighborhood around me with lights on. We all have to just man up, and pitch in and help one another. I think the Township response has been terrific. If anyone knows if Kinnelon Road is open yet at the top of Taylortown it will save me some gas! Gary Lewis

i would feel much more confident if updates came from the montville township OEM director or the chief of police. after all this is the mayor who told us two days ago that there wasn't a gas shortage.
Montville is a great town, great volunteers and employees who are working around the clock to get us back to normal. while it is difficult and patience is running thin, we will get through this. Thank you to all who are working round the clock

I think information is what people want. Where are the crews working , is the issue that we need more crews or was the damage worse than we thought. If you say to me, more resources were sent down the shore, I would totally understand. Since this is not a shore community and we did not flood, it's hard to understand why 6 days later , 40% do not have power. I think information is key. Thank you

I too am one of the 40%. Those that will be out another 2 weeks at least deserve to be told. I have three children under 4 years with a three month old and I need to make other arrangements if its going to be another two week. Not to mention I haven't seen a power truck in this town in three days. Once the highschool and Municiple building were up and running bye bye trucks!

How can I even send my kids to school!?!?! Hungry and dirty? Are you serious!?!? This is not this first time this has happened and what can be expected with an antiquated power system?!?! This is unacceptable and unbearable. Why can't we know where JCP&L is working and/or when they expect to be in areas - this range of days is not helpful at all!

Mrs. Simone, no one can challenge the valiancy and strength with which you and your family have in dealing a with a catastrophe which dwarfs what many of us are going through in Sandy's aftermath. Please do not, for a second, think that my suggestions minimize your horror. They don't.

But, in the hopes our town moves through this crisis as quickly and efficiently as possible, holding it's head high, I say what I say.

Hearing from our mayor is a blessing. It supports his conviction in wanting to help. It gives us more knowledge AND confidence. And, no doubt, it must be confusing and difficult to get word out to the town.

I dont know anyone who is on our towns's NIXLE. And most I talk to feel they have little knowledge of what is being done. Perhaps there is a way to reintroduce the concept, have another enlistment period, broadcast its use and reasons for it. If our enlistment numbers in town are up to 75% of population, I stand corrected. If not, we need to do more to enlist. My sister has used the service for the town in which her shore house is in and it has been very helpful.

On tv, I have seen the Sea Bright mayor holding town halls. Who knows? Perhaps that works there and not here. Obviously we are too small for our mayor to go onto channel 4 with a press conference. In this day and age, there are texts, phone calls, emails, website, voice mail. It must be hard. But there must be some innovative ways to get more information to ALL the people.

Personally, I would like to hear clarity on why there have been so few JCP&L vehicles in town, more than 5 days after the storm. This is confusing, upsetting and frustrating. Either from them or a town spokesperson (mayor, chief of police, I don't care who, just someone), someone please answer those of us who are truly "in the dark". If they don't have enough employees, or have to deploy elsewhere, that doesn't work for me. We use their services, pay every month, and as part of our 'contract' with them, should not suffer with the multiple, and sometimes extensive interruptions we have annually. Time has come to question, challenge, and correct. For this storm and the future.

More than anything, I'd like to hear that our leaders are challenging JCP&L (and not just sympathizing with them) now and will continue to do so when this is in the past. This was a monumental storm, agreed. But why do so many homes lose power multiple times a year with much more docile weather conditions? There is something wrong with the power grid here, its placement, its strength, and its ability to withstand and force of storm. This issue needs to be fixed as quickly as possible.

Why do so many people HAVE to buy generators. That simply should not be.It's RIDICULOUS to live in a town, pay taxes, utility bills and HAVE to buy a generator, too.

Months from now, the lack of reliable power to all parts of our town needs be addressed and fixed.

Was told JCP &L werent repairing lines that were held by verizon poles. Is that why 2 weeks delay. If town knows which sections will have a delay of another week, the people should be told. The cold weather has changed everything.

We here on Gathering Road are in the 40% as well and it is no fun. We are trying to make the best of it and we have wonderful neighbors all helping each other out, but it doesn't make any of us feel any better to see Konner Ave closed with the same wires down for 5 days now and and no JCP&L handling it. What is JCP&L thinking? Just seeing no activity working on the lines or tree removal is making us all quite frustrated and angry. Where's JCP&L's contractors and mutual aid help? Time for the Board of Public Utilities to get involved don't you think. Konner is a main road for Hilldale School and for others to get to Woodmont School; Gathering Road is one of the few large cut through streets bringing you from Changebridge to Konner. Compared to others at the shore and other communities, we are fortunate and have a lot to be thankful for. However, Montville was not hit like that and with 40% left to fix it's hard to conceive that we're not fully back up and running by now.

We here on Gathering Road are in the 40% as well and it is no fun. We are trying to make the best of it and we have wonderful neighbors all helping each other out, but it doesn't make any of us feel any better to see Konner Ave closed with the same wires down for 5 days now and and no JCP&L handling it. What is JCP&L thinking? Just seeing no activity working on the lines or tree removal is making us all quite frustrated and angry. Where's JCP&L's contractors and mutual aid help? Time for the Board of Public Utilities to get involved don't you think. Konner is a main road for Hilldale School and for others to get to Woodmont School; Gathering Road is one of the few large cut through streets bringing you from Changebridge to Konner. Compared to others at the shore and other communities, we are fortunate and have a lot to be thankful for. However, Montville was not hit like that and with 40% left to fix it's hard to conceive that we're not fully back up and running by now.

We really need to get these kids back in school. More time without school, is just not acceptable. The governor said the schools were a priority, but I don't see this. Woodmont Elementary will continue to be in the dark until they restore power in Pine Brook.

We are also part of the 40% and when the wind blows normally, we lose power. We have never been treated well when it comes to getting our power back and we have seen long, weeklong waits during other storms. This time, a huge tree came down and tore out wires and poles. The tree was blocking access to our driveway. We called JCP&L about lines down and nobody ever came. In order to at least get out of our home, the tree and wires were moved by civilians. It could have been a catastrophe. Thankfully, it wasn't because the lines were dead. We have a generator, we have to have one living here. However, getting gasoline has been a problem and spending the money to run it every day is a big expense. Each year, we hear how antiquated the lines are and it takes forever for anyone to patch it up again for us until the next time the wind blows. It would be really nice if someone ever let us know the status of our area on the schedule, but we already know that we will be one of the last ones to be worked on. We have not seen anyone up here working at all. Another storm is looming next week. We will prepare for the long haul but it sure feels lousy to be one of the forgotten.

We are part of the 40% without power and signed up to receive Nixle alerts. I haven't seen an alert for days concerning Montvile. I was told in person yesterday by JCP&L workers the downed poles on Passaic Valley were not reported. If it wasn't for Montnille Patch, I would have no news about what is happening in town.

If you send me pictures of down wire lines and poles with street names I will tweet to jcpl. My sister lives on old lane and I am very concerned.

I am very concerned about the Lake Valhalla neighborhood. So many downed wires in addition to whatever problems with tranaformers, substations, and whatever infrastructure problems there are in the town. Most of the lake area doesn't have natural gas, so we can't even heat water or use the stove. Many neighbors have already left the area, and many more are planning to leave town if this extends much longer. I'd love to see the schools back in session, but I worry most William Mason families will be off the grid.

It would also be nice to see a map of what electric hubs power the different neighborhoods of our town. This would then help us understand and assess time it will take to get the power back in appropriate neighborhoods. It has been frustrating to see Cambray a block away from us have power since Thursday. From the previous comments I have read, it also seems that that power goes out with minor storms also which begs the question why the towns electric infrastructure has not been updated.

We are a family without power and, in talking to various friends across town, it sounds like the ratios are quite off. It sounds more like 60% are without power and only 40% have it. And why were the schools left out of the "state of emergency" from the Governor? It's all just so difficult to understand.

There seems to be miscommunication going on. There was a verizon worker on Douglas Drive earlier ready to have someone come change the post but there is no order to have the trees trimmed. We don't understand. We have all reported it.

Please help!

I am also part of the 40% - but it does matter if is 40 or 1%. You see,Mr Mayor, the frustration stems from lack of information, the solution should not be to go the high school for basic needs, or that we will get through this like we did after the last storm. My question or questions to the town are as follows:
What was done after the last storm
What plans were laid out with the utilities for the antiquated grid system
What was their response in terms of how long it would take to update the problem areas
How is the town holding them (utilities) accountable
What did the town do prior to this storm to protect the fragile substations
Now you may have proper answers to all of the above and if you share them with the citizens - some of the frustrations will be resolved. We all understand that the clean up will take time in terms of clearing roads, etc but these power outages simply cannot continue after every weather issue and our solution of spending large sums of money buying generators, etc does not sit well on household budgets. I hope you understand no disrespect is intended here but if you have proper answers share them and don't continue with a "politically correct" statement that we are all in this together when clearly we are not as you and the town have the ability to be in direct contact with the proper authorities and we don't. Thank you

The townhouse communities (Longview, Changebridge, Chase, etc.) and Rachel Gardens should all have natural gas generators at their clubhouses. Easily 20% of Montville Twp's population wouldn't have to get in their cars to find heat, showers, and a place to recharge had they been better prepared.

It is especially upsetting since individual condo residents aren't allowed to have their own generators.

Tonie you are expecting miracles. If the Mayor or his committee had answers we would not have been in this situation. No Power after 5 days. What I would like to know that what compensation measures has the committee planned for to get the Town back in Business. Why was the Town Hall not offering shelter or even basic Gas line, etc information . I walked in to Pay my taxes and this time it really hurt to pay them. The Municipal Building had all the amenities, none of which were being shared with the residents. Not even information!
When officials say that we are all this in together, does that mean they are part of the 40% residents who do not have power?

At present residents need for the committee to act, walk the walk and not just make patronizing statements!

Wow Tonie, beautifully said.
How is it possible that a town such as Montville, once lauded one of the best places to live in New Jersey, becomes paralyzed with each and every storm event?
We do need answers and we need our power returned.
How is it possible that according to JCP&L we have more homes out of power today than yesterday. I've been watching that number for days now, hoping to see an improvement but that number just doesn't drop!! How can that be ?

Power just returned for my family Towaco, NJ! Ya!!!!

One of the 40%. Generators not much help for those with well water, unless can get hook up from neighbor with city water. If schools do open how will buses get around the dangerous debris, many of us would'nt wanrt our children walking around fallen trees, potentially live dangling lines, poles or weak tree limbs. I can't see image conscious middle/high schoolers wanting to leave the house all dirty! I am from europe, have not experienced such lengthy outages even though i have experienced many storms, all powerlines/fibre optics run underground, no ugly lines are seen overhead. Need better infrastructure, especially since we pay some of the highest taxes in nj. Also there was ample time for trees hanging over lines to be cut down, since the last 2 big outages. I am always on edge even if there is a slight breeze.

I have a business in the Mars Park complex. Power has been out since Monday. I too have been told that we can't expect to be working until Wednesday at the soonest. My landlord has told me that he has land there that he can't build on due to the "Highland's Act". I might add that is stands directly below the High Tension transmission lines. Perhaps he should be approached for a "Montville Substation" in Mars Park? Just a thought and suggestion.
Rob
Retrocycle, LLC

The town's done a good job of communicating. And I've been getting Nixle reports regularly, including just a few minutes ago. Just go to Nixle.com and sign up

"Montville Township Public Schools and St. Pius X School will be closed on Monday, November 5th and Tuesday, November 6th due to the hazardous conditions caused by fallen trees and downed power lines in many areas of the township. Information will be available on Tuesday afternoon regarding Wednesday's school schedule. If conditions permit, the schools will be open on Thursday, November 8th and Friday, November 9th, days they had been scheduled to be closed for the now-cancelled Teachers' Convention."

See http://montvillenj.org/. Info is current.

If the town is doing a great job communicating, why is it up to individual home owners to report power outages during a natural disaster? My street looks fine - no downed trees and we have underground wires. The problem lies two streets over with downed poles that should have been reported by town officials as one of the worst hit areas that affected hundreds of homes. To have a portable sign on Chanegebridge informing the public that we will be without power for 7 to 10 days is not communicating.

Why were Montville residents not allowed to get walk up gas at Valero or Shell on Saturday? These angry residents that were turned away just wanted to heat their homes. It is just a disgrace that the Mayor didn't visit these gas stations and enforced a rule that would allow Montville residents to get fuel by presenting a license with a home address. Other towns like Wyckoff, Mahway, etc. made sure that their people were not left out in the cold with such rules. Shame on you Mr. Mayor!

As the weather continues to get more severe, I think the town council should re-evaulate the town's power source as it does the acquifer. I think it would add insult to injury, if the new anticipated power lines are upgraded and town still continues to experiences power outages. Comprising our school systems and businesses can't be good for community.

After "weathering" 44 yrs of Montville storms &resulting power outages, not excluding 10 days w/o power last OCT.an efficient system of communication is long overdue for Montville Twsp. This 2nd. "STORM OF THE CENTURY" brings the urgency front & foremost. A dept. under the pervue of public works must be implemented immediately.As senior citizens ,&of this past month in poor health , we found it imperative to find shelter, warmth & food .With no power ,tel. land lines & with all at&t. cel towers inoperable, we have had no means of communication re; condition of street ,or possible structural damages.Additionally no info. of any kind re; restoration of power on area streets. & subsequently , the inability of receiving same. Totally UNACCEPTABLE, WHEN ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS intellegent ORGANIZATION OF E-MAIL ADDRESSES of EACH TAXPAYING CITIZEN in this town. One must hope this urgent issue will be addressed &impemented poste haste,so as to never repeat this situation.

Wally, after reading your comments stating don't push the mayor for answers or criticize him for not coming up with creative ideas for local residents to get gas, and now this response to Gladys joking about expecting our local gov't to organize a a communication initiative, I have to ask you why do we have a local gov't in place then, and who or what do you look/speak to for answers and resolutions to large scale problems?

Wally, in a home with smart phones, 3G service on my laptops being charged by a generator, I am signed up for Nixle reports, receiving emails, phone calls and texts. To tell me there is no school today and tomorrow and garbage svc is resuming is not the communications I'm looking for. When will I get power? Where does my street fall on the map in terms of repair. Why doesn't our town officials hold an emergency town meeting to give us answers. Do you really think gas station owners have the authority to ration gasoline to Montville homeowners without authority and support from their government? And yes, still no power here and a noreaster on the way.

http://www.state.nj.us/nj/home/features/spotlight/20121105_JCP&L.pdf

What would be wrong with devoting one pump - or lane in the bigger stations just for people with gas cans - it would keep everything moving - especially for the "walk ups". Though the Exxon today did not have a long line at 2pm

I am a Montville township refugee located with relatives in a rural area with plenty of trees. The roads have been cleared, and there are no lines at the local gas station. Only difference is that JCPL is the power transmission company. Time for the gov to lower the boom on the absentee owners of JCPL.

Correction to previous post. JCPL IS NOT the local power transmission company.

Ok now you have to laugh! Getting an email from the superintendent coming up with this great idea for kids to do half days in the schools that has power? Now I work my husband works so how would you like my 5 year old daughter to go to lazar? Walking? The idea is insane! Mayor come on get these streets up and running! 7 days with no power and counting! Very disappointed!

40% of residents do not have power and there are not any JCP&L workers anywhere in sight. Furthermore, with the wind gusts expected to be 50-60mph on Wednesday through Thursday, it is imperative to restore the power by tomorrow or many of us will have to wait until Friday. It seems Montville has been de-prioritized.

WED.11 PM. HAS POWER BEEN RESTORED TO THE LAKE VALHALLA AREA ?PLEASE REPLY W/ANY INFO