Some services restored; many residents still without power
Non-perishable food donations sought for flood victims
Union County, NJ – Two days after Hurricane Irene, Union County operations are returning back to normal with limited exceptions. However, many residents continue to experience hazardous conditions due to flooding, power outages and blocked roadways. Among the areas that experienced significant flooding was Cranford, where approximately 2,000 residents had to be evacuated.
The latest updates are available on the Union County website, www.ucnj.org.
“Many Union County residents have suffered severe damage from the storm, and the numbers are especially high in Cranford,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “If you’d like to help out, there will be a food drive to help flood victims at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Wednesday, August 31.”
Union County updates:
The free Summer Arts Concert at Oak Ridge Park in Clark will go on as scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 31. Attendees are asked to bring nutritious canned or packaged non-perishable food, for donation to flood victims. Donations may be dropped off any time after 7:00 p.m.
Emergency road closures due to flooding, sinkholes, power lines and other hazards are still in effect. For a complete list of affected roads and updates, visit www.ucnj.org and follow the link on the home page.
Meals-on-Wheels suspended individual and congregate meals on Monday, August 29 due to damage at its facility in Linden. Home deliveries will resume on Thursday, September 1 but congregate meals are still suspended until further notice.
The Union County Paratransit System was operating on a limited schedule on Monday, August 29. It is now back to normal service as of today, Tuesday August 30.
Union County Superior Court was ordered closed on Monday, August 29 and has resumed normal hours and operations.
The Union County Vo-Tech Schools campus is still without power. The student orientation scheduled for today, August 30, has been canceled.
Union County’s recreational facilities are returning to normal operations but some remain closed until further notice.
- Watchung Stable: Open
- Trailside Nature & Science Center: Opening Wednesday August 31.
- Galloping Hill Golf Course: Opening Wednesday August 31 (driving range at has been open as of Monday August 29).
- Ash Brook Golf Course: Closed until further notice.
- Ulrich Swimming Pool: Closed until further notice (Wheeler Pool was already closed for the season earlier in August).
- Sports fields (baseball, soccer, tennis, etc.): Closed until further notice.
Summit and Springfield remain under a boil-water advisory from New Jersey American Water. The company has also issued a discolored water advisory for Union County. Customers can get updates fromwww.newjerseyamwater.com (use the Alerts Notification link at top of home page).
The Union County Office of Consumer Affairs reminds residents to be alert for storm-related insurance scams and price gouging. Residents who suspect that they are being excessively charged for gasoline, home repairs or other goods and services can report the incident by calling the Office of Consumer Affairs, 908-654-9840.
The Countywide emergency shelter system took in more than 180 residents at eleven locations during the storm. Only one shelter in Clark remained open on Monday August 29, and it is now closed. An additional countywide shelter has opened at 220 Walnut Street Cranford that is available from 6:00 p.m. tonight, Tuesday August 30 to 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31. Walk-ins are welcome up to midnight; residents needing emergency shelter after midnight should call their local police department for access to the Cranford facility.
The FEMA funding process is in its early stages, in which information is collected on the extent of damages. When the funding stage of the process is reached, FEMA will publicize information on how to register for assistance.
Union County residents can keep informed on FEMA announcements by checking the agency’s website, www.fema.gov, or by signing up for Union County’s First Alert messaging system, which will provide an automatic notification by email or text message. To sign up for UC First Alert, visit www.ucfirstalert.org.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.