Snow Storm Could Bring Weekend Power Outages In Morris Co.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The first big storm of the winter is approaching, and with that could come power outages. Morris County towns have begun warning residents to prepare to lose power, and JCP&L has begun issuing their own warnings.

"Our meteorologists are monitoring Winter Storm Harper, a complex storm system that will affect our service area this weekend. Utility personnel are prepared to respond to outages caused by heavy snow, ice and high winds," JCP&L said.

"We are monitoring the weather conditions closely and will deploy resources to the areas that could get hit the hardest," said Sam Belcher, senior vice president of FirstEnergy and president of FirstEnergy Utilities. "The goal of our planning efforts is to safely speed the outage restoration process and minimize any inconvenience our customers experience due to the weather."

• Read More: NJ Weather: 11" Of Snow, 35-MPH Winds, Power Outages Expected

If your power goes out, there are multiple ways to report it to the company:

• Text OUT to 544487
• Online at www.jcp-l.com
• Use the JCP&L smartphone app (iPhone and Android)
• Via the "Report an Outage" tab here on Facebook (http://statictab.com/h8vmadi from a mobile device)
• Call 888-LIGHTSS (888-544-4877)

Madison residents need to report outages directly to the borough by calling 973-966-7330.
You can also take these simple steps to keep your home safe, courtesy of JCP&L:

• Keep a flashlight, portable radio and fresh batteries handy.
• Have extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person.
• Have bottled water on hand, especially if you have a water well and pump.
• Stock an emergency supply of convenience food that do not require cooking.
• Assemble a first-aid kit.
• Gather prescription medications and other personal health items.
• Keep a charged cell phone and a car charger handy in case of an emergency or to report your electricity is out.
• Tune to a local radio station for storm information and warnings that may be issued.

PSE&G has these tips:

• Prepare your home for high winds, securing outdoor objects.

• Downed wires should always be considered "live." Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything it might be in contact with. If a wire falls on or near your car, stay inside the car, call 911, and do not get out until a power company deenergizes the line. If you MUST get out of the vehicle because it is on fire, jump as far as possible away from the vehicle, with both feet landing on the ground at the same time, and hop or shuffle away.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline powered engine, including generators and snowblowers, in a garage or any other enclosed space.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch in 10 New Jersey counties for a storm that's supposed to dump snow beginning mid-day Saturday, then get worse by 7 p.m. Most of the snow is expected to fall Saturday night.

Much of the rain will come Sunday morning, mixing with snow mostly north of I-195. The wet weather will stress New Jersey's power capacity and create a mess on the roads.

The worst will happen on Sunday afternoon and evening, when temperatures drop to about 10 degrees. All that snow and rain will flash-freeze, forecasters say, and commuting will be a nightmare during the Martin Luther King Day holiday on Monday.

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