Let me sum this up in two words....we're effed.

It could be worse. Be thankful you still have a standing house, many don't

This is absolutely insane, how did they not prepare for this, they knew exactly what was coming.

And remember they were going to charge us for all the repair work from the previous storm by increasing electrical rates. Would not you think that they would factor such maintenance/repair into their rate base already? So we now see that even putting electrical wires underground does not completely protect them. Maybe we need to go back to the Nickalous Tesla method of transmitting electricity through the air. Why was he stopped by the powers to be?

Hi All -- Just a reminder about the alert sent out this morning - The charging station for cellular devices, laptops etc. is now open at the Mahwah Police Station on Franklin Tpke. You can access the station through the rear of headquarters.

With the weather getting colder you would think Ridge Road would be a priority so the schools could be set up as shelters. We are running out of food and it is getting cold. In my opinion, 700 customers were not a priority for the town of Mahwah when so many of us are freezing in our homes. Four schools are just sitting there powerless and there hasn't been one truck on Ridge Road repairing since Monday.

Why in gods name did I get a call from Mayor LaForet yesterday telling me that 700 families in Fardale have power restored? I live in Fardale, ran 5 miles through Fardale and no one has power in Fardale. Who is he kidding???? and why is he wasting taxpayer money to make calls to people who can't even get the message. If you get power then you are lucky. I don't need dissappointing news thinking I am going home to a house with power to find no one having power. Stop calling please.

Anyone that suggests any utility could have prepared for this type/of storm is clearly ignorant. Instead of complaining and criticizing we should all be thankful our homes are still standing and suck it up!

I am in Fardale and the neighbors down the street have power. We are sitting patiently, pooling together resources and helping eachother out. The sense of community in Mahwah is amazing. Thankfully we are kept up to date on all township matters via the Nixle system as we do not have phone service. What a valuable resource!
This storm could have been a heck of a lot worse. People kinda forget that Irene had us under a lot of water as well as power outages.

This blows. I drive past downed trees and all I see are workers and cops drinking coffee. How much longer do we allow this to continue??

I am also in Fardale and do not have power. We are in Bogerts, and most of Pulis has power, but they somehow went right past us. There are over 130 homes in there with mostly elderly people, seems like its okay to by pass us because we are low income to get to those who have more money..

The slow response is troubling. I have not seen any repair trucks around or working. Where is the resiliance in their infrastructure...what a terrible design. And they want to increase rates?

Shelley don't forget it all depends on where your wires are running from know one knows who you are. Just hang in there. Notify Rockland electric again and give them
your phone number they check your address with that. Maybe go have the dinner they talked about at the church. Wish I could help you. Call the Mayor he'll help.

@bob Rama: they have contractors in from 3 states. They're all doing a lot of looking and not a whole lot of fixin. If this goes another 24 hours, people will lose their fucking minds!

Tammy is right, Mahwah is a great community to live in, as strangers with power have opened doors to others without to be able to charge things, a warm meal, a shower, a hair dryer, or just warmth in general; it brings tears to my eyes. While the stress of this has made me cry several times since Monday, I am grateful that this mostly poses a great inconvienence as opposed to what Irene did. I'd rather lose a few hundred dollars worth of food than a few thousand in furniture, electonics, or other furnishings. I am physically fine allbeit a bit more emotional. As the old addage says: This too shall pass, and what a story we will have to tell.

Friday - Nov 2nd from 5pm - 7pm Free Salad & Pasta Dinner at Ramapo Reformed Church for residents without power. Also a charging station is set up. Please tell your neighbors that may not have phone or cell service!!!!

Our son-in-law is an AEP lineman who just got there to help. These line men will be working 16 to 18 hour days. They are all caring men who want to get your power back as soon as possible. Give them a break ..they are working as hard and fast as possible. Hang in there...our prayers are with you & them !

Part of the problem is that in NJ the unions won't allow the people who fix the wires to touch the trees or the guys who cut back the trees to touch the wires. So instead of waiting for one crew we are actually waiting for two. As explained to us by some R & O people today, if we get luckywe might get a visiting crew from a state that trains their guys to do both.

@ Andy- I think you overlooked my point. Four schools and the library stand empty because electricity has not been restored to Ridge Road. I don't begrudge those who have gotter the power back. For the GREATER good of a town of 27,000 residents where 80 percent are without electricity I think Ridge Road is a priority. WHY? Because those schools can be used as shelters to sleep during fifty degree nights. Those schools could be places to get hot meal. Those schools can be used as a place for mass numbers of people to come together during this stressful time. Electronics can be charged and residents could go to the library and check out books. Some residents don't have friends or family with power and as a result are left shivering in their dark homes while spending copious amounts of money on restaurant food.

That is why, in my opinion, I think Ridge Road is a priority. But perhaps what a previous poster stated bears some truth.....the neighborhoods surrounding the schools aren't worthy because they aren't part of big-money Mahwah.

Has anyone checked their status date on O&R's website? And if so what was tge date they're saying we will have power again? Thank you!

Maybe this will help explain why so many are STILL without power.

http://www.waff.com/story/19981857/some-nonunion-ala-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-recovery

@Andy and all other detractors,

Here, for your viewing pleasure, are multiple links from a WIDE variety of sources, both conservative and liberal, all reporting the same thing - that non-union crews were turned away from NJ.

And please explain just HOW I EXPLOITED anyone on this page??

Did it actually occur to you that quite possibly, my posting this article may have led to the wide circulation of it and phone calls or emails that are responsible for the bigwigs back-pedaling and looking to save face for their absolute stupidity and audacity in refusing to actually allow non-union workers to help NJ residents? Nah, THAT just couldn't be now could it??? Politicians and corporate executives NEVER LIE, right??

Kind of odd though how long it took all of them to issue a response and hush it up on the other end.

http://money.msn.com/politics/post.aspx?post=f10196ea-b637-4c70-9e4e-daf819b06d38

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/11/02/utility-companies-deny-right-wing-media-claims/191101

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/hurricane-devastated-nj-town-rejects-non-union-alabama-electrical-workers/

http://www.foxbusiness.com/government/2012/11/02/union-red-tape-in-nj-causes-alabama-recovery-crew-to-head-home/

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/alabama-utility-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-relief-not-union/

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/11/02/New-Jersey-Turns-Away-Nonunion-Relief-Crews

http://www.therightscoop.com/nonunion-utility-crews-turned-away-from-new-jersey/

BTW, there are a multitude of other articles out there about this topic that all come from reliable sources other than the ones I chose to post here. You're more than welcome to do your own homework on those, though.

How many of you have heard that Martial Law was declared in Seaside Heights, Union Beach and Highlands and others, as well? I'm only posting this here because I'm not sure what other sources you are able to tap into at this time. Just an FYI.... NOT GOOD!!!

@ Andy....again. How would anyone know about the buckling problem on Ridge Road since there wasn't any news about it until one day after this article? Where was the team laforet reverse call about this problem? Laforet stated he was "prioritizing" what areas would be addressed. Again, in my opinion Ridge Road was a priority. Interesting that only after the public started clamoring on this discussion board did the town release information about Ridge Road.

Stop being such a know it all troll and STOP USING CAPITALS, it just makes you more annoying!

Because you could be next, Andy. Why such a Smart @ss lately? I realize things are stressful, but simmer down already with your aggression.

For those of you who have not, but might consider better preparations in the future should another event like this take place, I'd like to provide you with some info from some friends of mine who have been "prepping" for quite sometime. It could make all the difference in the world to you and your families on the next go 'round. Talk with your neighbors and friends about working together as a group. If you have no one to do this with, you CAN do it alone, too. Whatever you end up doing, make sure you can trust those who might be involved or know about your "preps."

Prepared? MOST IMPORTANT...DO NOT RELY ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANYTHING!

We get asked all the time what to have for disaster prep in our home and the 5 minute or less list.

I have looked at this over the years in different ways. We each have our own "to do" lists and we work on them throughout the year to keep this home ready and stocked.
Clint does the ammo...guns...vehicles and over all defense of home plan. Our other plan is staying AT home..only leave for extreme health issues...If your house is on fire..yes please leave and ask me why I need to mention it;)
Heidi's Part: I take care of all food, water, cleaning and medical.
Its good to designate people within your family to have a role in something. This not only takes the load off one person but with more in your family thinking about it the more likely you will not miss something...so just food for thought on that.

This list is what I started years ago and I based it of having NOTHING!....nothing to heat things up including food and your body and nothing to keep things cool as far as food...you have no generator and there is no gas at the gas stations....worst case situation.
Last night I tried to imagine if I were a parent living in NY and I had no heat to keep myself and children warm...no clean water...no way to feed them and no way to defend them from bad people...excuse my french but that is some scary shit on the mental crap O Meter. So...lets do our best to NOT be in that position.
We have based our list on never having to leave our home...what gets you into trouble is exposing yourself to the "dangerous elements...natural and man made"
WEEKS MINIMUM! No excuses...you must have at least 2 weeks period...for many on the East coast they will be out for at least another week to 10 days.

1. Have the ability to protect yourself, family and home: Guns...ammo..flashlights..extra batteries( HUGE D battery shortages in the Storm area)....ability to lock and secure openings. Looters and bad people are dressing up in power company uniforms and robbing homes...jeeze some poor guy in NY was robbed by 5 guys on the street just trying to get out of the storm...THEY ARE NOT LIKE US and will cut your head off and put it on a stick if you get in their way...do don't even go outside..try and stay at home.
2. Fireproof box for cash and important documents like insurance and passports...so you can grab it fast and get out and have physical security over it while you are home.

3. FOOD and WATER: You can go to the extreme on this but you don't have to. Go to the store and buy canned goods...fruit...veggies...protein...this you can all eat COLD and do NOT have to prep or use water for dishes..just open them an eat.( I hope Andrea Mitchell someday needs some canned goods and clothing...seems to me that is what people are asking for on the east coast today..ok..had to get that in;)) Please include food for your animals...pets are our family...and if you are like us...you will NOT be leaving them. Have the ability before hand with smaller pets to have a crate so you can keep them safe.
4. MEDS and basic first aid...have at least a months worth of meds that you need...pharmacies are the stores being hit the most right now and it might take longer for them to open up. Have a good basic first aid kit.
If you require meds that need to be kept cold...look into getting a small tiny one that runs on batteries.

5. Staying warm..right now this is a huge issues to the storm survivors. Clint and I have fireplaces and firewood but for something short term we have the lower back thermal care packs...you can keep yourself warm for 8 hours with those. Also an idea is if you are in larger house...if you have tent...set it up ...you can create more heat and the kids will have fun;) If you have sleeping bags those are good also and hold heat especially in your tent and with your body core heater.
6. Bathroom: Have the ability to keep yourself clean...think ahead how you would handle "garbage"....buckets and garbage bags you can be very creative with but you need to be able to put it someplace asap before someone in the family does something stupid. Remember what it was like inside the bathrooms at the stadium during Katrina? Yes...Holy Crap in the real sense...you must take this seriously and think about it. Don't think the power will come back on in a day so you can flush what you have "done"...so...have your plan in place. Going outside to do your business may NOT be an option during dangerous times. Don't know about you but I don't want to be caught with my pants down and get robbed or worse.

7. Phone contact person...ok...this can be a hard one but pick 2 to 3 people you know that do not live by you....one of them should be whom you get messages to in case you are on limited phone battery...give them a list of who they need to call to tell them you are ok. I think the hardest part would be for me not being able to get ahold of my mom and our kids...not knowing...and so that helps you family and friends help you.
This is our down and dirty 2 week list and at least have a couple days worth of the above if you CAN drive and get to "safer ground". This is NOT all inclusive...but I hope this can help some of you that would like to just get a start at it. Seeing what is happening to our country because of Sandy is horrid but its a good lesson for all of us to not be caught off guard.

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