Sense of Normalcy Returning to Livingston

Life is returning to almost-normal conditions in Livingston Sunday, nearly a week after Hurricane Sandy beared down on the township, Mayor Stephen Santola said Sunday morning.

The mayor said he has been in contact with both JCP&L and PSE&G  and has been told by company officials there will only be “isolated pockets” of the township without power by midnight Sunday.

“At least 95 percent of the township has power,” Santola said around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

He was waiting for a call from JCP&L officials on which schools had power, but was unable to say at the time if there will be school in the township on Monday.

Santola also said: 

• All township polling places for Tuesday’s elections have power and will be fully staffed.
• The township department of public works has worked all weekend to clear streets and remove debris from the storm. Santola said there are only “a handful of streets left” that have downed wires or trees in the township and he expects those to be taken care of shortly.
• As power has been coming back on, township businesses are starting to open again.
• Gas stations in the township are open and police are manning the stations to control traffic and make sure everyone who needs fuel can get it.
• The township continues to ask residents to voluntarily conserve water. Livingston’s two water-pumping stations are open and there is no reason not to drink township-supplied water.
• The township library is open with full services with the exception of wifi. People have been coming to the library to warm up, charge up and spend some time indoors, Santola said.