Mayor: 'This is Much Worse Than Hurricane Irene'

Reacting to the major snowstorm that hit Bloomfield, Mayor Raymond McCarthy told Patch on Sunday, “This is much worse than Hurricane Irene in terms of destruction.”

So far, the disruption includes the closure of Bloomfield schools on Monday.

“Brookdale School has no power, and Franklin has half-power.  Across the street from Demerest there’s a huge tree hanging on the power lines,” said McCarthy.

Board of Education President Mary Shaughnessy said she heard a report that Oakview School was currently without power as well.  Shaughnessy, who herself was without power on Sunday, said she had put a call through to School Superintendent Jason Bing and was awaiting confirmation on whether schools would be closed on Monday.

At 4:00 pm. Bing telephoned Patch to say that all schools would be closed on Monday.  Patch will publish more school information as it becomes available. 

In the meantime, Bloomfield is working hard to get the town operating again, as people struggle to recover from the freakish October snowstorm. 

“I just got off the phone with PSE&G a couple of minutes ago, and they say there are 3,500 residents without power in town,” the mayor told Patch.  “Generally when the electricity goes out, the heat goes out, too.  We’ve got 19,000 households in Bloomfield – and add to that 3-400 apartment rentals.” 

The mayor said that although the Civic Center has been open since Saturday night to shelter those without heat and electricity, nobody has shown up so far. 

“PSE&G says they hope service will be restored by Wednesday but we’re hoping we’ll get it back in the next day or two,” said McCarthy.

In the meantime, Bloomfield’s Department of Public Works has been working around the clock to clear streets. 

“Right now we’ve got full crews on DPW opening up roads and trimming trees,” said McCarthy.  “Most of the streets are cleaned, salted and plowed now.  But there’s a live wire on West Passaic Avenue since last night.” 

McCarthy said he had heard a report of a man who had suffered a heart attack and collapsed while shoveling snow, but that it turned out to be a fainting spell.  “I’ve been in touch with Fred Mendhal from the Emergency Management team,” he added. 

Shaughnessy, for her part, also expressed concern for some of the people in town who are ill or elderly.  “Some people are dependent on electricity for oxygen, or other medical equipment,” she said.  “I’m very worried about our elderly people in town.”

Editor’s Note:  As of Sunday afternoon, Mountainside Hospital on Bay Street was reported to be operating on emergency generator power. 

New Jersey Transit said service will remain suspended Monday on the Morris and Essex Lines, and the Montclair-Boonton Lines. On Sunday, the agency said there were 30-minute delays are expected on buses and it will cross-honor transit tickets.

More information will be published as it becomes available.