MANCHESTER – A widespread outage affected thousands of residents, some of which had to be sent to shelters.
Police said that the power went out in areas of Whiting at around 8 a.m. on December 23, impacting approximately 5,200 residents. The cause was an overloaded power grid caused by extremely low temperatures.
These low temperatures continued to cause problems for residents. It was in the low 20s during the day but dropped to the low teens overnight. This created potentially dangerous conditions for people and pets in the area.
The Manchester Township Police Department said they issued multiple Nixle alerts (an emergency communication system that residents can sign up for) and posted on social media and used a Reverse 911 call to keep people informed.
Warming stations were set up at Manchester EMS and Whiting Volunteer Fire Company during the daytime hours. At night, Manchester Township High School was opened to displaced residents. The shelter was operated by the American Red Cross, which provided food, beds, and pet-friendly accommodations.
Police and School District Transportation staff offered rides to the shelters and home from them once power was back on.
Multiple traffic signals also went out, so police had to direct traffic in the freezing weather for several hours. Officers also conducted welfare checks on people when necessary.
“This incident represented a large-scale, multi-agency response where every organization worked hand-in-hand with one another and the community to ensure the safety and well-being of all affected residents,” police said. “The coordination and cooperation displayed throughout the response exemplify the strong relationships between local, county, and volunteer agencies and their unwavering commitment to the public. From providing vital updates to transporting residents to warming centers, everyone involved worked tirelessly to meet the needs of the community during this challenging time.”
The Manchester Township Police Department extended its “heartfelt thanks” to all those who assisted during this incident, including the Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services, Brick Emergency Medical Services, Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Manchester Volunteer Fire Company, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, and the Manchester Township Office of Emergency Management. They also were grateful to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Ocean County Department of Health, Manchester Township Board of Education and Transportation Department, and the American Red Cross for their critical support and coordination.
“The combined efforts of these organizations, along with the incredible resilience of our residents, ensured the community was supported every step of the way,” police said.
