South Brunswick Braces for Wrath of Irene

South Brunswick officials are making preparations for a direct hit from Hurricane Irene this weekend. Residents are urged to be aware of emergency precautions and problem areas for flooding in the township.

"There is no doubt based on all the information we have now that the Hurricane will have a major impact on our community," said  Chief Raymond Hayducka via release. "We can expect significant flooding, possible power outages, and certain roads to be impassable. The time is now for everyone to get prepared."

 yesterday in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, urging a voluntary evacuation of shore areas. South Brunswick, however, has not yet issued its own state of emergency.

"Preparation-wise, we haven't declared a state of emergency for the township yet, but we're preparing for the worst," said South Brunswick Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz on Thursday.

In the event an evacuation becomes necessary due to flooding or loss of power, the is the first option as a township emergency shelter, with the at Woodlot Park and ready as backup shelters.

"We have our own buses to transport people, but we've also been in contact with the (South Brunswick) should we need their buses," Schmalz said. "Public works is also out checking the generators at all of the possible facilities. We're also checking all of our equipment, like saws and chippers, in the event of downed trees, because the last bad storm we had there were a lot of trees that were problems in Kendall Park."

was issued earlier this week for the possible impact of the storm by the South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with county and state officials. The announced it will be closed on Sunday in anticipation of the storm.

State Climatologist David A. Robinson said Irene's potential for problems are exacerbated by the rainfall that the area has already seen.

The storm forecast predicts the potential for more than 10 inches of rain in parts of New Jersey, Robinson said.

"We could be faced with flooding that rivals the flooding of (Hurricane) Floyd," Robinson said.

Additionally, strong, sustained winds can potentially push trees up out of the already damp soil, down power lines and complicate travel.

Continuous winds in this area could go as high as 50 mph, with hurricane force gusts possible, Robinson said.

"With the ground so wet, it's easier for trees to get uprooted," Robinson said. "We're all too well primed for problems in terms of uprooted trees and flooding rivers."

In South Brunswick, certain areas of Route 1 have been consistently flooded during heavy rainfall, something residents should be advised of should they need to travel.

The area between is the primary concern for the township in terms of flooding, Schmalz said. has also caused constant difficulties during storms, according to Schmalz.

"Other areas of concern for flooding are Route 1 and Finnegans Lane, and Route 1 and Blackhorse Lane near where the Oakdale Mobile Home Park is," Schmalz said. "On the east side of town, the Fresh Ponds Road area and parts of Cranbury-South River Road could be a problem. But a lot of that has been addressed with improvements the county has made, but it still has the potential to flood."

The township Office of Emergency Management warns residents to be aware of several streams that occasionally flood and could impact the following areas in the South Brunswick:

• Route 1 between Route 522 and Ridge Road 

• Route 27 in the area of Stillwell Road

• Oakdale Mobile Home Park - Route 1 

• Monmouth Mobile Home Park - Route 1 

• Deans Lane 

Throughout town, residents near any body of water should be aware of the potential for flooding, and use caution when driving.

"Any local creeks or really any body of water are something people should keep their eyes on," Schmalz said. "When crossing these areas, people shouldn't just assume they're not deep, and use extreme caution when they see water across the road." 

Should an evacuation become necessary, the township will contact residents in the affected areas to get them out, Schmalz said. 

Residents in need of assitance should only call 911 during an emergency situation. All other calls for assistance should go to South Brunswick Police at 732-329-4646.

Here are certain preparations residents can take;

ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME:

• Three day supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat food
• Three days supply of water (a total of three gallons per family member)
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• One week's prescription medications
• First Aid Kit
• Personal toiletries 
• Non-electric can opener and utensils

Special Needs Items:

• Infant care items
• Items for elderly family members
• Items for relatives with disabilities
• Cash or Travelers checks
• Store important documents in a waterproof, safe location

IN CASE YOU NEED TO EVACUATE:

• Keep your vehicle's gas level at a minimum of half-a-tank.
• Every family member must carry contact information:

All phone numbers at work, school, etc. for every family member

The name and number of a relative who lives out-of-state, to call in case your family gets separated.

In anticipation of possible storm conditions, PSE&G urges customers to be aware of the following important points:

DOWNED POWER LINES

Heavy rain and strong winds can cause power lines to come down.  Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered “live.”  

STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES.  Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with.  Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires.  If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.

CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT

Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive priority attention in the event of an outage.  To request the service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG.  They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency.  Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.

IF YOU LOSE POWER

First check your neighborhood.  If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses.  If that’s not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole.  If it is down, report it immediately to PSE&G.

If you lose power:

• Throw a blanket over appliances for added insulation. 
• KEEP REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER DOORS CLOSED.  Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer (24 hours in a half-full freezer).
• Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener. 

• Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate. 
• Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored. 
• Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.

HOW PSE&G RESTORES POWER TO CUSTOMERS

In the event of an outage, PSE&G’s crews work around the clock to restore power to customers. Their first concern is always health and safety.

Crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account “priority” customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment.  At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.

IF YOU USE A PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR, CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH IT.  Be sure your generator is UL-approved, installed by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local electrical inspector.  There must be a way to physically disconnect your generator from utility lines.  Customers who improperly install, operate or maintain a generator are responsible for any injury or damage suffered by themselves, their neighbors or utility workers.

FLOODED BASEMENTS

Flooded basements can pose a genuine safety risk. Below are some steps you can take to help ensure your safety in the event of flooding:

• Be cautious in flooded basements.
• If customers lose electricity and their basement is flooded, notify PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and call the local fire department to have the basement pumped. Stay away from the breaker box if it's in a flooded basement. And don’t go into a flooded basement if energized wires are present.
• If water gets up to the height of the gas burner on a water heater or gas heater, customers can shut off the supply of gas to the unit if they know how. They must call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) to have the gas supply turned back on, because pilot lights must be lit.
• Customers should call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) immediately if they smell gas.

GENERAL TIPS:

Mother Nature can be unpredictable.  It’s wise to have an emergency kit on hand year round.  Here are some things to include:

• A battery-powered radio. 
• A corded telephone (cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
• Flashlights and extra fresh batteries.
• A first-aid kit.
• Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food.
• A non-electric can opener.
• Matches and candles with holders.
• Extra blankets and sleeping bags.

A list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires.

Jennifer Bradshaw contributed to this report.