The Township Manager, Emergency Management Coordinator and other Public Safety officials are closely monitoring the weather forecasts and meeting with Burlington County & State officials in preparation for Hurricane Joaquin.
The most recent information for Hurricane Joaquin issued this morning indicates that there has been a slight shift to the east which now brings the storm along the coast. This could still mean significant rain and wind for our area which could begin as early as Saturday night as the storm is @ 205 miles wide. As a note the National Weather Service is still predicting rain for tomorrow (Friday) through tomorrow evening.
If you have not done so already, we suggest that you sign up for Township email notifications from our website (http://www.medfordtownship.com/content/63/957.aspx), NIXLE text messages & emails (www.NIXLE.com), Global Connect, and/or Like our official Facebook page (Township of Medford, NJ) for updates as we receive them.
Please see press release below issues this morning by Atlantic City Electric:
Atlantic City Electric Prepared for Hurricane Joaquin - Customers Should Prepare for Potential Outages
MAYS LANDING, N.J. – Atlantic City Electric is closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Joaquin and the
weather forecast that calls for heavy rain that could cause localized flooding and gusty winds that may impact
the company’s service territory this week and through the weekend.
Atlantic City Electric has crews prepared to restore any potential outages, but customers should be
prepared for the possibility of power outages that can last for a short period of time or multiple days depending
on the damage to the system. In addition to internal linemen, Atlantic City Electric has overhead line
contractors and tree crews ready to be deployed. We have also started discussions with the North Atlantic
Mutual Assistance (NAMA) and Southeastern Electric Exchange (SEE) groups to secure outside utility crews.
Atlantic City Electric is also in contact with local emergency management officials and our Call Centers are
staffed and prepared for this event.
High winds can bring tree limbs into contact with power lines causing power outages. We will work around
the clock to restore any outages that may occur, however for the safety of the overhead line personnel, if
sustained winds reach 35 mph, work that requires raising a bucket/arm boom will be interrupted until it is safe
for the crews to continue.
Safety is our No. 1 priority. We urge our customers to stay clear of working crews and any wires hanging
loose from poles or lying on the ground. Customers should always assume that downed wires are energized
and avoid them. Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire by calling 1-800-833-7476. We
also ask customers to let us know if they lose their power.
They can report outages by calling 1-800-833-7476, visiting www.atlanticcityelectric.com or through our mobile app, available for download at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp. It’s important that customers report their outages and request a call
back to verify their power has been restored.
Preparedness tips for Atlantic City Electric customers:
? Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television,
flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs
items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
? Keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable foods and bottled water and have a
hand-operated can opener available.
? Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
? Make sure you have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless
telephones require electricity to operate and won’t work if there is an outage.
? Identify a safe alternate location in case of an extended outage.
? Tune to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
? Follow the advice of local emergency management officials.
General Safety Tips:
? Protect electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive
equipment into surge suppressors and consider an uninterruptible power supply for temporary
battery backup power.
? If a portable generator is needed, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when
necessary. Don't overload it and turn it off at night while asleep and when away from home. Do not
run a generator indoors or in an enclosed garage.
? Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if using an
electrically operated sump pump, the customer should not turn off the power.
Find additional information and updates by visiting www.atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acelecconnect. Download our mobile app at
www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.
STATEMENT FROM PSEG:
PSE&G Prepares for Hurricane Joaquin/ Offers Storm Preparation Tips
(NEWARK, N.J. – Sept. 30, 2015) - Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, is making preparations for a possible landfall of Hurricane Joaquin in its service area. The utility also is closely monitoring the expected heavy rains and high winds over the next several days.
“While it is too early to know with any certainty when and where Joaquin will make land -- and the strength of the storm when it does -- we take every storm with the potential for outages seriously,” said John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations for PSE&G. “We are activating our emergency protocol and personnel, and performing system checks on critical transmission and distribution equipment. Also, we are requesting mutual aid from other utilities, securing additional tree crews and ensuring the availability of materials and supplies.”
What to do now: Be ready to communicate, make sure you have a family emergency plan, and prepare an emergency kit.
Stay connected:
- Compile a list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G’s Customer Service line 1-800-436-PSEG.
- Sign up for My Account and bookmark the mobile-friendly homepage on your smart phone to report outages and check restoration progress.
- Register for MyAlerts ahead of time to receive text notifications about an outage: https://www.pseg.com/myalerts/.
- “Like” PSEG on Facebook and follow PSEG on Twitter @PSEGdelivers.
Formulate a plan:
- Discuss storm safety with your family.
- How will my family/household get emergency alerts and warnings?
- How will my family/household get to safe locations?
- How will my family/household get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landline doesn’t work?
- How will I let loved ones know I am safe? How will family/household get to a meeting place after the emergency?
- Be sure everyone in the family is prepared. Go to www.pseg.com/sesamestreet to download the PSEG and Sesame Street “Let’s Get Ready!” emergency preparedness app for young children.
Make an emergency kit:
- One gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days
- At least a three day supply of non-perishable foods and a manual can opener
- Ensure you have a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries.
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Consider purchasing a portable gas generator
More information on how to prepare an emergency plan and kit is available at www.ready.gov.
Visit PSEG at:
www.pseg.com
PSEG on Facebook
PSEG on Twitter
PSEG on LinkedIn