Sandy Clean-Up to Get Boost From Chainsaw Crews, Youth Corps

The township is calling in the reserves to clean up the mess left by Hurricane Sandy and to support the efforts of local employees who are conducting welfare checks of seniors citizens.

Township Administrator Anthony Ferrera said Thursday the township was told 20 chainsaw crews dispatched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency would  arrive to work on large tree removal.

At the same time the township’s health and social service departments are visiting the homes of all seniors living on the sections of Hillsborough still without power. Township employees also distributed food and water to seniors without power.

The employees will be seeking information about any needs for drinking water, water to flush septic systems, and provide information on the services available at the township’s warming center, the YMCA and other emergency facilities, he said.

The warming center is open Thursday and Friday at the township complex from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and showers are available at the YMCA.

Ferrera said the township is included in a Somerset County application for a federal Natural Emergency Grant that would allow Hillsborough to hire 18 temporary employees for six months to help with repairs to municipal facilities and perform other clean-up duties due to Sandy.

The township has also requested a group of Youth Corps workers to come and help seniors clean yards of debris  that can be placed curbside for eventual delivery to the recycling facility on Auten Road.

Ferrera said between six and eight Youth Corp workers, who are between the ages of 16 and 25, are expected.

The township came through the overnight snow storm in good shape, Ferrera said. Snowfall was between 2 and 4 inches.

No new power outages were reported, and the schools opened on time.

There are still about 900 customers without power in Hillsborough, according to the utility companies.

Public Service Electric and Gas Co. reported 843 outages Thursday morning, and Jersey Central Power & Ligh Co. reported 40 outages.

PSE&G has advised Somerset County that full restoration to all areas of the is anticipated to be done by Friday.

JCP&L has advised the county that that full restoration to the area will be on or before Monday.

The following township roads were still closed as of 8 a.m. Thursday:

• Three Bridges Road, north of Hockenbury Road
• Orchard Drive between Crater Road and River Road
• Long Hill Road between Montgomery Road and Dutchtown Zion Road
• Dutchtown Zion Road between Longhill Road and Route 601
• Township Line Road between South Woods Road and Riverview Terrace
• Township Line Road between Pike Run and Willow Road
• Claudia Road between Hammler and Johnanson Road.

Other Sandy related township information:

• Somerset County will resume recycling on Tuesday, Nov. 13
• Due to the storm, Hillsborough has extended the grace period for the fourth quarter tax payment to Wednesday, Nov. 21.