HURRICANE SANDY STORM UPDATE
FOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012
This is a message from Mayor Linda Schwager and the Borough Council:
Restoration of Power
Power is being restored to the center of town. However, numerous other areas remain without power. While we have received many requests for information on when specific areas will have their electricity restored, we currently have no reliable information to provide. We are trying to find out when power will come back and will pass it along as soon as we hear anything. Be prepared that power may be out for at least several more days.
Borough, School and other Facilities
Our Library is open until 8pm this evening. You can go to there to get warm, charge your cell phones and use our wireless internet.
Schools are closed tomorrow.
Churches have opened their doors. You can go to OLPH today until 7pm. Call 201-337-5557 for details.
The Senior Center will be closed through Friday due to lack of power.
Elections
Due to the lack of certainty about power at the Senior Center, it will NOT be used as a polling location next Tuesday, November 6th. Voting for districts three and four have been moved to the Valley Middle School Gym.
Shelters
If you need shelter, be advised that the County is now using the Bergen County Police and Fire Academy on Campgaw Road in Mahwah and there is space. We are prepared to open our shelter in Oakland if there is enough of a need. You can still call 201-337-8111, ext. 201 to provide your contact information. If you cannot reach anyone at that number then call 201-337-6171.
Removal of Tree Debris
The Borough has removed all of the trees blocking roadways that it can at this point. The remaining trees have taken down power lines and Rockland Electric must first cut off power to these lines before the remaining trees can be cut up and taken away. We are working with Rockland Electric to have them accomplish these tasks as quickly as possible but they have not been able to provide us with an estimate of when they will be at specific locations.
Regarding tree debris removal on your private property, please remember to put out limbs and branches in barrels or bundles and it will be removed as part of the yard waste collection program, which is Monday or Tuesday depending on which side of town you live on. Yes, there will be pickup next week. It is the responsibility of the property owner to make their own arrangements to remove any trees not owned by the Borough that fell on their property.
Garbage Pick Up
There will be garbage collection tomorrow and next Monday.
Communications
The Borough website and e-mails system have been intermittent since the storm. If you need to contact officials at Borough Hall or the DPW, please call rather than send e-mail. The Police, Library and Fire Department e-mail systems are working. For online resources you can go to oaklandfd.com, oaklandnjflood.com, theoaklandjournal.com, oaklandpatch.com, and northjersey.com