UPDATED 4PM: SP Warns Residents About Unlicensed Contractors

Update: Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.

Storm Update 

As clean up continues through out Scotch Plains many homeowners have received unsolicited calls and flyers from contractors to do repair work to their homes and yards.  Residents should be aware of unlicensed contractors who may try to take advantage of them.  

You should research any contractor by checking referrals or you can check for any complaints against them with the better business bureau www.bbb.org .  This website also offers tips on hiring disaster repair services.  

 Some contractors have been soliciting door to door; any such solicitor must have a valid permit issue by the Township of Scotch Plains. If you are in doubt, contact the Scotch Plains Police department. 

Also, as a reminder, the following procedure for Hurricane Sandy debris removal is in effect: 

•  The Department of Public Works (DPW) will be making its final pass throughout the town, picking up storm related debris at curbside throughout the week.  They will be keeping an accurate account of which streets have been cleared.   

•  Once your street has been cleared of Hurricane Sandy debris, the DPW will start its leave pickup and will not remove any trees, stumps and branches.   

•  If a resident dumps anything other than leaves on their street after DPW clears storm debris, they will not be removed and it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to remove them.  

Residents can log onto www.ucnj.org for up to date FEMA information and contact numbers.

Update: Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.

A message from the Scotch Plains Police Dept

 PSE&G has reported that 99% of Scotch Plains has power.  As of today, the township is shifting from an Emergency Operations mode into the Clean Up and Recovery Phase.

As we enter the winter season and the potential for snow storms increase, we must prepare our 350 plus township streets for safe plowing and allow for adequate drainage to prevent flooding.  

 For those residents living on a Union County road if you have any questions regarding storm debris removal you should contact the Union County Road Department at 908-789-3694.

The following procedure for Hurricane Sandy debris removal will be in effect immediately:

• The Department of Public Works (DPW) will be making its final pass throughout the town, picking up storm related debris at curbside throughout the week.  They will be keeping an accurate account of which streets have been cleared.  

• Once your street has been cleared of Hurricane Sandy debris, the DPW will start its leave pickup and will not remove any trees, stumps and branches.  

• If a resident dumps anything other than leaves on their street after DPW clears storm debris, they will not be removed and it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to remove them.

Residents can log onto www.ucnj.org for up to date FEMA information and contact numbers.  

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick will host a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Information Session for the public on Wednesday, November 14, at 7 p.m. in the Roy Smith Theater on the Cranford campus of Union County College. The College is located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.
Experts on recovery following the Hurricane will be present. The session will include representatives from FEMA and the insurance industry. All are welcome to attend.

Update: Nov. 9 at 4:45 p.m.

A message from the Scotch Plains Police Department


The Township of Scotch Plains would like to announce the appointment of Chief Brian T. Mahoney as Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management.

Power was restored to sections of the downtown area including the traffic signal at Park Ave and East Second St. Also, Channing Ave now has power.

The traffic signal at Rt 22 and Glenside has been powered up and functioning.

PSE&G crews have been in the area of Mountain Ave and also in the Terrill Rd / Cooper Rd area working on circuits affecting those areas.

PSE&G expects to have the majority of power restored to Scotch Plains by Saturday. There may be individual customers or small areas affected past that date.

There is still a lot of debris on the roadways. Our DPW and independent contractors will continue to remove downed trees throughout the weekend. Please use caution while driving, especially at night.

The Scotch Plains municipal building, 430 Park Ave, and the south side fire house located at the intersection of Martine and Raritan are open during the daytime hours as warming and charging stations.

The Evangel Church, 1251 Terrill Rd continues to offer an overnight shelter, wi-fi, charging stations and limited food. Cots are available first come first serve. Please bring your own bedding.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Update: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 6p.m.


There are numerous PSE&G and out of state crews working to restore power in Scotch Plains.  They will continue to work in the rain/snow tonight however federal safety rules prevent line crews from working in bucket trucks when winds are greater than 40 mph. When repairing damaged lines in an area, they may need to take a line out of service temporarily for safety reasons.  Power will be restored as soon as it is safe to do so.  We ask for everyone’s understanding when this occurs.   
Areas that are still without power include:  

Northside of Town:  

Glenside Ave area  
Park Ave. north of Front St  
Mountain Ave.  
North Ave. area by Longfellow  

Southside of Town:  

Cooper Rd by Terrill Rd. area  
Raritan Rd. 1600 block area   

We are monitoring the PSE&G crews working in the remaining areas without power in Scotch Plains.  As of today PSE&G informs us that 2,200 customers are without power. They have provided us with a timeline that indicates 99% of those customers will have power restored by the weekend.   

As a reminder the Evangel Church located at 1251 Terrill Rd. is open 24 hours as a shelter.  Contact the Scotch Plains Police Department to report any additional downed wires or trees due to the ice/ snow storm tonight.

Update: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.

From the Scotch Plains Police Department.

Traffic Alert:  

Commuters that are taking an NJT bus to NYC and being picked up or dropped off on Rt 22 and Glenside Av are reminded that the power to the traffic signal is out.  

It is illegal and extremely dangerous to cross a divided highway without an operational traffic signal.  The danger is heightened during nighttime hours.  

NJT has been informed to not allow commuters off the bus at Glenside Ave if they have to cross the highway.  If you must cross Rt 22 at Glenside to pick up the bus or when you are dropped off, please make arrangements to pick up the bus or be dropped off on Rt 22 & New Providence Rd in Mountainside or on Rt 22 by the McDonald's in Scotch Plains.  

We apologize for the inconvenience.


Update: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 12:40 p.m.

A Message from the Scotch Plains Police Department

We are expecting a winter storm later today into Thursday morning with wind, rain and possibly snow.  The power companies have been temporarily repairing electrical lines however, additional lines may come down.  Please do not approach or touch a downed wire as it may be live.  Contact the Police Dept.

The Evangel Church located at 1251 Terrill Rd will be open as a warming shelter, charging station and they have Wi-Fi.  This shelter is open day and night.  Cots are available on a first come first serve basis.  If you need to use this shelter it is recommended you bring your own bedding and blankets as these items are in short supply.  Pets will not be allowed at the Evangel Church shelter.

We are continuing to use the municipal building located at 430 Park Av as a warming station and charging station.  Contact the Police Dept for additional sheltering needs at 908-322-7100 ext 7.

Power is coming on in most areas in Scotch Plains and major roads are passable.  Please drive with extreme caution as many roads are narrowed with debris.  Also, some intersections remain without power.  As a reminder, any intersection with a traffic signal without power is considered a four way stop. 

Update: Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 2:25 p.m.

Today is election day and the polls are open.  

Please get out and vote.
PSE&G has made considerable progress in the last few days and they have informed us that 90% of the township will be powerized by Friday. Large portions of Scotch Plains are energized, including priority facilities like Senior Housing on Lake Avenue.  We are awaiting updated figures for and will continue to provide updates. 

However we are not able to specify which areas as they are being worked on.

Important notices for today: If you are using a generator, continue to operate 
your generator according to themanufacturer’s guidelines.  

The possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning does exist with the use of generators.

FEMA representatives were in today and they will soon be opening a local Recovery Assistance Office.  

We will identify the location of that site assoon as we know.  

In the meantime phone 1-800-621-3362 to register for assistance.

An around the clock shelter has been opened at the Evangelical Church on Terrill Road for any one without power.

There will be additional updates issued from this office as further developments
arise.  

Residents with computer or internet access can obtain additional information and updates through the following sites:  

Visit www.scotchplainsnj.com -updates on power outages and clean up 
www.ucnj.org -  click link for First Alert to register for text/email updates 
www.nj.gov -   updates from Governor and assistance information 
www.disasterassistance.gov -   information on assistance through FEMA 

Town Hall has been closed since the storm due to a lack of power.   
We will re-open as soon as power is restored.  


Calling 908-322-6700 will access ourphone system which will indicate if the facility is open.

Update: Tuesday, Nov, 6 at 11 a.m.

Scotch Hills Club House has been closed as a warming shelter.

In Place of Scotch Hills “The Townhouse” at Green Forest Park has been opened as a warming station. That facility has electric. Green Forest Park is located on Westfield Road behind St. Bart's.

Update: Monday, Nov. 5 at 1:20 p.m.

The township’s Emergency Management team, as well as our public works department, continues to work around the clock to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

PSE&G has made considerable progress in the last few days.  Large portions of Scotch Plains are energized, including priority facilities like Senior Housing on Lake Avenue.  We are awaiting updated figures for today from our contact but felt it imperative the following information should be disseminated as soon as possible.

Important notices for today:

If you are using a generator, continue to operate your generator according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.  The possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning does exist with the use of generators.

The November 6 Election is taking place tomorrow.  The following polling places have been changed:

Coles Elementary is moving to Terrill Middle School

Scotch Plains Public Library is moving to Park Middle School

All other polling places remain the same

As per the Mayor and Chief of Police, all Halloween festivities are cancelled for the evening due to the number of streets that are still unsafe for pedestrians.

There will be additional updates issued from this office as further developments arise.  Residents with computer or Internet access can obtain additional information and updates through the following sites:

Visit www.scotchplainsnj.com - updates on power outages and clean up

www.ucnj.org -  click link for First Alert to register for text/email updates

www.nj.gov -   updates from Governor and assistance information

www.disasterassistance.gov -   information on assistance through FEMA

The Evangel Church located on Terrill Rd will be available for over night accommodations

Scotch Hills Country Club will continue to be open as a warming station and for charging of electronic devices.

Trees that have fallen on Private Property are the Homeowners responsibility for removal. If you are unsure if the tree was on your property or the township's property call the non-emergency police number or the manager's office and someone will come out and take a look.

Update: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Update From Mayor Mary DePaola

The Township’s emergency management team, as well as our public works department, continue to work around the clock to ensure the safety and security of all of our residents.

PSE&G has made progress in the community and neighborhoods have been restored on both the north and south sides of town.  A large portion from Westfield Ave north to Rt 22 has been restored as well as a section in the area of Martine Ave and Raritan Rd.  We are pleased to report that the Senior housing on Lake Ave which has been a priority for us has been restored.  We continue to work with key personnel from PSE&G to ensure that other priority areas of the Township continue to receive the necessary attention.  

This devastating storm initially affected 1.7 million of the total 2.2 million customers serviced by PSE&G.  At its peak, the storm left 9,270 customers out of a total of 10,162 in Scotch Plains without power. As of this morning they have restored service to approximately 1.2 million customers in the service area.  There remains 4,700 customers in Scotch Plains without power.  We have been advised that all the substations that feed the customers have been fully energized.  This has enabled PSE&G personnel to attack the damaged circuits and downed lines more aggressively.

The current work plan for PSE&G has been reviewed and approved by the Governor.  For more information residents can visit the State’s website at www.nj.gov.  This three day plan dedicates resources to municipalities based on percentages with design to restore the largest numbers of customers as quickly as possible.  Beginning today in Scotch Plains we have seen a flurry of activity removing downed trees and lines.   

Residents can find additional information for PSE&G at 800-436-7734 or pseg.com/outagecenter.  Anyone that sustained damage related to the storm may be eligible for assistance from FEMA.  Visit www.disasterassistance.gov for information

A special thanks to those municipal officials, employees and volunteers who have worked tirelessly and around the clock as we recover from this devastating event.


PLEASE Remember to AVOID DOWNED LINES. As power is restored, these lines will be live again.  This has potential to become more problematic as a larger number of neighborhoods come back on.  Residents should immediately report any dangerous conditions to the police department as result of down lines becoming energized.

Do not cut trees on utility lines.

Electric meters on residencies must be still attached to the house for power to be restored. If your meter is not attached, you must contact your electrical contractor to reattach the meter.

Streets to Schools, Churches, and polling places will be cleared first.

Water should remain on with no restrictions.

Fourth quarter property taxes normally due on November 1, 2012 with a 10 day grace period, will now be extended until November 20, 2012 with no interest charges.

The November 6th Election is still scheduled to take place at regular polling places.

Scotch Hills Country Club is scheduled to be open as a warming center and a place to recharge cell phones, etc.

The lobby adjacent to the Police Department in the Municipal building is also open as a charging station.

Effective 12 noon Saturday 11/03/12 gasoline will be sold on and odd even schedule.

Thank for your continued patience.

From Mayor Mary DePaola

Hurricane Sandy Update 

Update: Saturday, 9 p.m.

The townships emergency management team, as well as our public works department,  has been working around the clock to ensure the safety and security of all of our residents.

Chief Mahoney and I have been in regular communication with PSE&G representatives on daily Central Division conferences calls as well as additional individual phone calls with key personnel specifically related to power outages in Scotch Plains.  I have urged them to prioritize Scotch Plains and am pleased to report they have allocated additional resources to priority facilities throughout the township assuring those most in need including senior citizens, public safety facilities, schools, and water systems are the primary areas of focus.

At its peak, the storm left 9,270 customers without power.  Now, over 3,500 customers have been restored and more residents are regaining their power as we speak.  You will see additional power crews in your neighborhood over the next few days and I am very optimistic about the progress and priority placed on Scotch Plains and its residents.

The Fanwood sub-station has been energized but individual circuits continue to have difficulty and are being repaired.  The Scotch Plains sub-station sustained additional damage and those issues are also being addressed.

PSE&G is working to restore power to the maximum number of customer and has assigned 2,794 additional crew members from out of state.

Residents can find additional information for PSE&G at 800-436-7734 or pseg.com/outagecenter.

A special thanks to those municipal officials, employees and volunteers  who have worked tirelessly and around the clock as we recover from this devastating event.
PLEASE Remember to AVOID DOWNED LINES. As power is restored, these lines will be live again.

Do not cut trees on utility lines.

Electric meters on residencies must be still attached to the house for power to be restored. If your meter is not attached, you must contact your electrical contractor to reattach  the meter.

Streets to Schools, Churches, and polling places will be cleared first.

Water Should remain on

Fourth quarter property taxes normally due on November 1,012 with a 10 day grace period, will now be extended until November 20, 2012 with no interest charges.

The November 6th Election is still scheduled to take place at regular polling places.

Scotch Hills Country Club is scheduled to be open as a warming center and a place to recharge cell phones, etc.

The lobby adjacent to the Police Department in the Municipal building is also open as a charging station.

Effective 12 noon Saturday 11/03/12 gasoline will be sold on and odd even schedule.

Sunday 11/04/2012 The Evangel Church located on Terrill Rd will be open and offering Hot Dogs and food as well as a charging station from 8am to 2pm.

Thank for your continued patience.

Update: Friday, Nov. 2

The latest update from PSE&G is that crews should begin clearing lines of fallen trees late this afternoon and overnight. We are still 3-5 days from today before power is restored. PSE&G is saying that some streets may not be powered before Nov. 11

The Fanwood substation is attempting to be energized. This serves over 5,000 Scotch Plains residents. Line repair must take place before individual streets can receive power.

PLEASE Remember to AVOID DOWNED LINES. As power is restored, these lines will be live again. Do not cut trees on utility lines.

Electric meters on residencies must be still attached to the house for power to be restored. If your meter is not attached, you must contact your electrical contractor to reattach  the meter.

Streets to Schools, Churches, and polling places will be cleared first.
Water Should remain on

Fourth quarter property taxes normally due on November 1,012 with a 10 day grace period, will now be extended until November 20, 2012 with no interest charges.

The November 6th Election is still scheduled to take place at regular polling places.

Scotch Hills Country Club is scheduled to be open as a warming center and a place to recharge cell phones, etc.

The lobby adjacent to the Police Department in the Municipal building is also open as a charging station.

Effective 12 noon Saturday 11/03/12 gasoline will be sold on and odd even schedule (This is across the state, more here).

Sunday 11/04/2012 The Evangel Church located on Terrill Rd will be open and offering Hot Dogs and food as well as a charging station from 8am to 2pm.