Brought to you by the Hillsborough Township Committee:

Hillsborough Prepares for Extreme Weather

Hillsborough Township's Office of Emergency Management held a meeting yesterday afternoon in preparation for the severe storm that is expected to begin late this morning. In attendance were Mayor Robert Britting, Jr., Administrator Anthony Ferrera, OEM Director John Sheridan, Public Works Director Rich Resevy, Police Chief Mike McMahon, School Superintendent Michael Volpe, Fire Chief Chris Weniger, Public Information Officer Sarah Brake, and representatives from emergency services and other Hillsborough Township departments.

In preparation for the storm, Hillsborough OEM has met with all Emergency Service personnel and opened an Emergency Operations Center so all parties can stay updated and in touch.

Emergency barricades are currently being pre-located in flood-prone areas in advance of the storm so teams can move quickly if needed, and some detours are already in place.

First responders are on alert.

Hillsborough Township will provide frequent updates throughout the storm via the Township website, CodeRed Alerts, and on Facebook.

Weather Timeline

Per the National Weather Service, two to three inches of rain are expected for the Hillsborough area.

Today: Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 50. East wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain, mainly before 4am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 45. Windy, with a southeast wind 25 to 30 mph becoming south 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tomorrow: A chance of rain before 7am, then a slight chance of showers between 7am and 2pm. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 42 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Please be advised that “911” is reserved for Emergencies Only. For non-emergencies, please dial 369-4323 and press menu option 3.

Governor Murphy Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Today's Storm

Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9 in anticipation of severe storms causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy rain, high winds, and flash flooding. Executive Order No. 350 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm.

Reporting Power Outages

Both PSEG and JCP&L are closely monitoring the developing weather conditions and have storm response teams in place in the event of an emergency.

PSE&G Customers

• Download the PSE&G mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
• Register for MyAlerts to receive text notifications at pseg.com/outagecenter.
• Report an outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734). You can also report your outage through our app or on our website at pseg.com/myaccount. 
• Follow PSE&G on Facebook, Instagram (@PSEG) and Twitter (@PSEGdelivers) for updates before, during and after the storm.
• Visit PSE&G’s Outage Map for the latest in outage info, restoration times and crew locations across New Jersey at pseg.com/outagecenter.  
• To report an outage by phone, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).

JCP&L Customers

• In the event outages occur due to severe weather, customers without power are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), clicking the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com, or by texting out to 544487.
• Customers should immediately report downed wires to 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) or call their local police department.
• JCP&L reminds customers to stay away from downed wires, even if they believe they are no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled with trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.
• JCP&L customers can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive weather updates in advance of major storms and updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Visit www.firstenergycorp.com/connect to enroll.
• Follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL or online at www.jcp-l.com

Flood Warning in Effect

Hillsborough residents who live in flood-prone areas are advised to evacuate ahead of the storm. All other residents are urged to stay off the roads for their own safety and the safety of first responders. Avoid unnecessary travel. DO NOT drive through standing water.

Flood and Flooding Reminder:

• DO NOT drive onto a flooded roadway
• DO NOT go around barriers
• DO NOT drive through flowing water. If you approach a roadway that is flooded, TURN AROUND - DON'T DROWN. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
• Drive with extreme caution if roads are even just wet or it is raining. You can lose control of your vehicle if hydroplaning occurs, which is when a layer of water builds up between your tires and the road, causing there to be no direct contact between your vehicle and the road. 
• Be Cautious of broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, submerged furnaces or electrical appliances and flammable or explosive materials coming from upstream.
• Before floodwaters crest, turn off the main power switch if you think the electrical circuits are going to be underwater. Never Touch The Switch While You Are Wet Or Standing In Water. Do not turn the electrical system back on until it has been inspected by an electrician.
• Know what a river height forecast means for your property especially how far your property is above or below expected flood levels.
• Know where to go in case of flooding. Remember that you must seek higher ground as quickly as possible, on foot if necessary.

Visit the American Red Cross website for more information about flood safety and preparation.

Fire Safety

• Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. This includes cable TV feeds.
• Be aware of and avoid downed utility lines. Report downed or damaged power lines to the utility company or emergency services.
• Be careful when using candles. Keep the flame away from combustible objects and out of the reach of children.
• Some smoke alarms may be dependent on your home's electrical service and could be inoperative during a power outage. Check to see if your smoke alarm uses a back-up battery and install a new battery at least once a year.

Generator Safety

• Keep generators outside of your home. Do not use the generator in the garage. Carbon Monoxide fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors. 
• Refuel generators carefully
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines when using generators. 
• Use the appropriate sized and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires. 
• Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord may go unnoticed. 

Follow us online for news and updates!