New Shelters to Open for Sandy Victims

The township's Sandy relief shelters are getting new locations.

That is just one of the announcements from Mayor James Barberio in his latest press release, issued late Friday afternoon.

The Littleton School warming/charging station closed for good as of 6 p.m. Friday, the mayor said in his written statement. It will be replaced by the Mt. Tabor Library and the Lake Hiawatha Library, which he said will operate as warming centers Saturday. 

He added that the overnight shelter at Parsippany High School will relinquish that role as of 6 a.m. Saturday. Until then, residents in need are welcome to stay the night. He recommended again that they bring blankets, medications, etc. Barberio also said that while pets may be brought to the school, they may not stay. He said Animal Control would take custody of animals and keep them at the pet shelter until the owner is ready to leave.

Par High will be replaced by the Parsippany Community Center at 1130 Knoll Road in Lake Hiawatha, the mayor said, which will serve as the new warming/charging station, and it will open Saturday at 6 a.m. Barberio did not specify whether this new shelter would permit overnight stays and did not respond to Patch's request for clarification.

The mayor's release also covered power restoration in the township.

"Power was restored today to the neighborhoods of Powder Mill North, Powder Mill South, much of Route 10, the Gates Court complex and about half of Glenmont Commons," he said. "Work continues on the Parsippany Road and Littleton Road areas."

The mayor said he had not received information on restoration of other portions of the township.

"Utility work will continue restoring services well into next week," said Barberio. "Continue to call JCP&L directly at 888-544-4877 to report power outages."

The mayor also made the following announcements:

• The Parsippany Recycling Center will be open from 8 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. on this Saturday and on Monday through Friday next week from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
• SAT Testing scheduled for Saturday at Parsippany Hills High School is cancelled. Further information, he said, is available online.
• Water and ice provided by JCP&L is available for pickup at the Morris County Public Safety Academy at 500 W. Hanover Ave. until 9 p.m. Friday. The mayor wrote that he has received no word of the service continuing Saturday.

The mayor repeated his warnings regarding driving in the township. The state of emergency remains in effect, but driving is now permitted, he said.

"We are still urging people to stay off of the roads as much as possible," the statement said. "There are still many streets in our township that are blocked with downed trees and wires."

The release contained the following tips:

• Do not approach any downed wires. Assume that any wire that you see is live. As restoration of power continues in the area, lines that were previously dead could be energized without warning.
• Do not move or drive around cones or barricades. They are there for a reason and you will encounter a hazardous situation if you disregard them.
• If it is necessary for you to leave your home, use extreme caution while driving and only drive during daylight hours. Some traffic signals and street lights are still without power.
• Be careful driving around or near gas stations. The lines are very long and extend well out into the roadway. Gas stations that have no fuel to sell were asked to remove the prices from their price signs.
• Drive carefully.

The mayor's release said that, as reported by Patch Friday morning, Route 46 is now open for east-west travel. South Beverwyck Road is closed in both directions at the Interstate 80 East exit ramp, which is now closed.

(Patch adds that Littleton Road is closed at Sylvan Way; drivers can turn left there and follow the signs to reach Route 10.)

Barberio said the Parsippany Water Department is still operating using backup generators, making pumping ability "critically low." He reiterated his request for residents to conserve water and warned that there may be periods with lower than normal water pressure.

The mayor's release reiterated that the rabies clinic scheduled for the weekend has been cancelled. And he asked residents not to use 9-1-1 for anything other than legitimate emergencies.