Over 1,000 Without Power In Howell Friday Afternoon

HOWELL, NJ – Nearly 22,000 Monmouth County JCP&L customers are without power this afternoon due to the effects of Tropical Storm Fay, with 1,463 outages reported in Howell.

As of 2 p.m. on Friday, the Winston Park area has been hit the hardest, according to JCP&L. You can see JCP&L's power map here: http://outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html

In preparation for heavy rain, 60-mph winds, flooding and even possible tornadoes, Howell 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

While there are no road closures as of yet, officials from the Howell Office of Emergency Management confirm that Emergency Operations Center and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are on standby. Sandbags and barricades are at the ready in the event of flooding, and a tree cutting crew will be available.

Power out in Jackson, near Howell border/rte 9. https://t.co/KneDGlApyJ
— TraeMurnane (@TraeMurnane) July 10, 2020

Although a flash flood warning was posted statewide on Friday, rain is slated to become even 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.

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.

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.