Nearly 14K Without Power In Toms River As Storm Rolls Through

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Severe thunderstorms that rolled through Ocean County Friday evening left nearly 14,000 homes without power in Toms River.

A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect until 8 p.m. Friday, and the National Weather Service said more rain, thunder and lightning is possible until Sunday, part of the remnants of Hurricane Laura.

The outages were spread across Toms River and out to Seaside Park and the barrier island portions of Toms River. Berkeley Township and Manchester were affected as well, with nearly 20,000 homes and businesses without power as of 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Jersey Central Power & Light's computer-generated estimate of restoration was 9 p.m. There were more than three dozen reports of damage in the area.

Island Heights police reported a transformer caught fire in the area of Vansant Avenue, and the road is closed between Cedar Avenue and Tennent Street.

Here are the number of outages by town in Ocean County as of 6:55 p.m.

• Beachwood 30
• Berkeley Township 3,007
• Island Heights 37
• Lacey Township
• Lakewood Township 182
• Manchester Township 1,630
• Pine Beach 29
• Seaside Park 13
• South Toms River 23
• Toms River 13,395

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