Over 1,000 Without Power In Freehold Borough Friday Afternoon

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ – Nearly 22,000 Monmouth County JCP&L customers are without power this afternoon due to the effects of Tropical Storm Fay, with 1,097 outages reported in Freehold Borough.

You can view JCP&L's outages map here: http://outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html

In preparation for heavy rain, 60-mph winds, flooding and even possible tornadoes, Freehold Township is taking several precautions to ensure the safety of its residents. Tropical Storm Fay, noted as the first storm of its kind since 2012’s superstorm Sandy, is expected to hit all areas of New Jersey by mid-afternoon. Read more: Tropical Storm Fay In NJ: Timeline, Hour-By-Hour Forecast

Although a flash flood warning was posted statewide on Friday, rain is slated to become heavier around midday. According to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, heavy rains may result in localized flooding in urban areas, low-lying landscapes and areas with poor drainage. Strong winds may cause power outages and minor tree damage.

Freehold residents are encouraged to report any power outages to JCP&L. “Stay away from any power lines that have fallen or are sagging,” the township wrote in a Friday Facebook post. “Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Please report downed power lines to JCP&L.”

Residents are encouraged to prepare for the storm by securing outdoor items that may be susceptible to wind gusts (such as outdoor furniture), clearing gutters, monitoring local weather forecasts for updates and having a family evacuation plan ready to go.

For more tips on how to stay connected, see below:

According to The Weather Channel, Fay is the earliest F-named storm since the National Hurricane Center started naming tropical storms. The ongoing storm is the sixth named system this year.