400 Residents, 200 Hotel Guests Evacuated in Town

More than 400 Parsippany residents have been evacuated from their homes by either boat or truck and an additional 200 people have been rescued from two Route 46 hotels in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

But no injuries have been reported.

According to a statement released by the Parsippany Police Department Monday afternoon, 430 residents have been , mostly located in the lower Lake Hiawatha section of town.

In addition, 125 guests of the Howard Johnson Express and 75 people staying at the Holiday Inn Hotel have also been evacuated. Hotel guests have been transported to the evacuation staging center at Lake Hiawatha School, where cots and food were provided, the statement said.

"We were prepared," Mayor James Barberio said in the statement. "OEM, volunteers and township employees have worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to assist residents and will continue to be available. I am proud of them. This was a joint effort by all."

While waters have begun to recede, officials urge evacuated residents not to return to their homes. According to police, water on lower Vail Road has significantly receded, but side streets in the area still remain under water. Residents will not be permitted back into their homes in this area, police said.

In a statement released Monday at about 5 p.m., police said Vail Road at Edwards Road has been re-opened, but is limited to local traffic only. The statement said an evaluation of the area will be conducted over the next 24 hours and noftications will be made when it is safe to return to the homes, police said.

In addition to Interstate 287 being due to a partial collapse of the roadway, here is a list of Parsippany roads closed as of Monday at 3 p.m., according to the Parsippany Police Department.

• Entrance to I-287 North from Route 46 West is closed (Use Route 80 East and 280 East as alternates to Route 46 East
• Vail Road between North Beverwyck Road and Boonton
• Edwards Road at Larkspur Drive
• Entire length of New Road
• Vail Road bridge into Montville
• Knoll Road Bridge into Montville
• Intersection of Park Road and Route 202
• Morraine Road at Spencer Court
• All of lower Lake Hiawatha below Wenonah Avenue

JCP&L estimates 500 Parsippany homes remain without power as of Monday afternoon at about 3 p.m.

For updated information on homes affected by flooding, call the Housing Office information center at the Knoll Community Center at 973-263-4251 or 973-263-4280.

However, the Housing Office will close Monday night at 9 p.m., and will re-open Tuesday at 9 a.m. While the office is closed, contact the police department's main number at 973-263-4300 and select Option 1.