Morris Twp: We'll Help You Stay Safe in Hurricane

The following message was received from Morris Township officials. It describes the township's efforts to prepare for Hurricane Irene and what citizens are advised to do:

The Basics:

"Fire Commissioner (and Committeeman) Dan Caffrey and Police Commissioner (and deputy mayor) Bruce Sisler met this morning with the heads of the Morris Township Office of Emergency Management and First Responders to discuss and coordinate an emergency preparedness plan in anticipation of the potential weather event, Hurricane Irene. 

“Our main focus is to ensure the safety of our citizens and to have a crystal-clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of our First Responders as it becomes more apparent that Morris Township is in the path of Hurricane Irene,” Sisler said.

“Since a hurricane of this size hasn’t hit our area in a very long while, we wanted to make sure that our lines of communication stay open between the departments and that there is seamless coordination of our resources,” said Caffrey. 

Shelters/Evacuation:

Emergency evacuation staging areas will be at Morristown High School and Mennen Arena with a backup location at Frelinghuysen School. The American Red Cross has been dispatched to these locations.  Should an immediate situation arise, all five Morris Township Firehouses will be open and available to the public to seek immediate shelter. All five houses will be fully staffed.  

Yard Safety

Caffrey said, “Please secure any outdoor items that heavy winds could move. These items, even small unsecured items, can become projectiles and are extremely dangerous.” 

Who to call for downed wires, power outages

“If you are experiencing an emergency such as downed power lines, dial 911," Sisler said. "If a simple power outage occurs, residents should notify JCP&L." 

"The Communication Center and the Morris Township Police Department must keep its phone lines open for emergencies and power lines down is clearly an emergency. However, JCP&L is the appropriate venue for residential and commercial power outages,” Sisler urged.   

Stay Inside, Stay Low:

Caffrey and Sisler also asked that residents plan to stay indoors should the hurricane hit our area and try to stay off upper floors if your home is surrounded by trees that could be uprooted and reach the home.  

“With the significant amount of rainfall that we have received and will receive, uprooting of trees could occur with high winds. It would be safer to stay away from upper areas in your home.  

Don't drive:

Sisler and Caffrey stressed that, the fewer cars on the road, the easier it is for emergency response teams to get to an emergency location and for our Department of Public Works teams to clear fallen trees and debris from our roadways. "It reduces your risk of having an automobile accident with this potential type of weather. However if you do find yourself out and need information on traffic conditions, you can call the New Jersey State help line at 511 to get up-to-date information.” 

Some helpful phone numbers 

Emergency: 911

Morris Township Police: 973-539-0777 (non-emergency)

Morris County Office of Emergency Management: 973-829-8600

Morris Minute Men: 973-539-1776 (non-emergency)

Department of Public Works:  973-326-7398 

Morris Township Firehouse Locations: 

Station 1
973-326-7375
Mt. Kemble Fire Station
Corner of Mt. Kemble and Springbrook Rd 

Station 2
973-326-7373
Collinsville Fire Station
77 Whippany Rd. 

Station 3
973-326-7368
Hillside Fire Station
132 Western Avenue 

Station 4 
973-326-7374
Fairchild Fire Station
Corner of Burnham Rd. and West Hanover Ave 

Station 5
973-326-7369
Woodland Fire Station
Dwyer Lane

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State Information:

The following information is from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and more extensive information can be found at their website at http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/plan/kit-plan.html.

There are things you can do to prepare for the unexpected and reduce the stress you may feel should an emergency arise. Everyone should follow the steps that will help bring your readiness to the next level.

STEP ONE: "GET A KIT" of Emergency Supplies

• Three days' supply of canned, non-perishable, ready-to-eat FOOD
• Three days' supply of WATER (a total of three gallons per family member)
• Battery-operated RADIO and extra batteries
• FLASHLIGHT and extra batteries
• One week's prescription MEDICATIONS
• FIRST AID KIT
• Personal TOILETRIES
• Non-electric CAN OPENER and UTENSILS
• SPECIAL NEEDS items:
  • INFANT care items
  • Items for ELDERLY family members
  • Items for relatives with DISABILITIES
• CASH or TRAVELERS CHECKS
• Store important DOCUMENTS in a waterproof, safe location

IN CASE YOU NEED TO EVACUATE:

• Keep your vehicle's gas level at a minimum of half-a-tank.
• Every family member must carry CONTACT INFORMATION:
  • All phone numbers at work, school, etc. for every family member
  • The name and number of a relative who lives out-of-state, to call in case your family gets separated.

For further advice, read “Your Family Disaster Supply Kit,” available from the American Red Cross. 

STEP TWO:
"MAKE A PLAN" for Yourself, Your Family or Your Business

Follow the easy-to-use instructions in “Your Family Emergency Plan,” available here from the American Red Cross. If you have Disabilities or other Special Needs:

• Read these Preparedness Tips for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Register with your County OEM and local Police Department. Let them know of the assistance you might need during an evacuation or other emergency.

If you Do Not Own a Car or Cannot Drive:

• Ask your County OEM or local Police Department for details on the evacuation plans for transit-dependent individuals.
• Make plans with a neighbor who does drive.

If you have Pets:

• Read these Preparedness Tips for Your Pet. Disaster shelters cannot accept pets other than ADAassistance animals. You must plan accordingly.