Storm Guide: What You Need To Know

Transportation

NJ Transit announced Sunday afternoon that the Morris and Essex lines, including the Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton Line, would remain suspended Monday as crews continue to repair the damage left by this weekend's nor'easter.

With NJ Transit suspending service, DeCamp buses were "a zoo" as one commuter reported at 7 a.m. on Monday.  He said there was standing room only and that buses were turning people away.  Plan accordingly for your evening commute.

From the Department of Recreation:

The Bloomfield Shuttle Service is not running today because of canceled NJ Transit train service.

The Senior Citizen Bus that drives senoir citizens to ShopRite supermarket is running on an augmented schedule today due to a power outage at ShopRite. It is going instead to the A& P on Belleville Avenue.

Power

In New Jersey, 397,249 customers of PSE&G were still without power on Monday.

As of late Sunday, PSE&G reported that 3,500 Bloomfield residents were without power.  to restore service by Wednesday, but said he hoped it would be sooner.

The Bloomfield Civic Center has been open all weekend to shelter people who have no heat or electricity.  It will stay open at least until tonight, according to McCarthy, however, no one has showed up yet.

The Bloomfield Police Department issued a statement on Monday asking residents to check on elderly or infirmed neighbors in person.  For assistance, call the BPD at 973-680-4149.

Holiday Events

The question over whether—with so many people without power—trick-or-treating would go forward was answered at about 11:00 this morning, when the mayor's office announced that . 

Chief of Police Christopher Goul released the following message today to Bloomfield residents: Due to current hazardous conditions, specifically, low-hanging live power lines, trees partically and fully down, traffic signals out and various neighborhoods without electricity, Halloween actvities in the Township of Bloomfield have been cancelled this evening.  Halloweeen has been rescheduled for Friday, November 4, 2011.

With school -- and Halloween itself -- canceled today, area parents may be looking for alternative amusements for their children.  Parents are advised to call ahead before going anywhere, however, as many local businesses are still without power.  For instance, the Turtle Back Zoo is without power today and may cancel the "Howl-o-ween" event.

On Belleville Patch, a reader commented: All the area malls are hosting trick-or-treating from 3-6 pm indoors. This is just a suggestion for worried parents.

Patch will continue to update information as it becomes available.

Shelley Emling contributed to this report.