By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — Regional schools will remain closed tomorrow as New Jersey citizens work to pick up the pieces of uprooted trees and down power lines.
Superstorm Sandy left behind a wave of destruction in Central Jersey on Monday night.
Millions of people remained without power on Tuesday.
"Driving around town to visit the six (district) schools, the local devastation is apparent," said Edward Forsthoffer, superintendent of the East Windsor Regional School District, on Tuesday in a message to parents. "There are many trees that have been uprooted and are lying across the roadways. Many of these trees will not be touched until they can be assured that all of the power is off if they are tangled with power lines. This means that parts of (Route) 539, Stockton, and Half Mile Road are unusable."
Mr. Forsthoffer said that only the McKnight School had power.
"Four of our schools lost power last night and we have recently lost power at the Drew School. Other than the loss of power, our schools did remarkably well. Our roofs performed," he said.
Mr. Forsthoffer added that utility companies and road crews have kept busy trying to clear the roadways and restore power throughout the community.
District schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday – as were thousands across the Northeast.
Mr. Forsthoffer said he is communicating with East Windsor Police Chief James Monahan and Hightstown Police Director James LeTellier. He said both Mr. LeTellier and Chief Monahan have advised that folks stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel.
"There are still falling power lines and limbs and we all want to make sure that no one is injured," Mr. Forsthoffer said. "Everyone is working hard to get us through this crisis."
Mr. Forsthoffer said that he would update parents with any additional information tomorrow for important updates regarding what is planned for the rest of the week.
"If you have been watching the news you already realize that power may not be restored for days, or even the end of next week," he said.
According to Gov. Chris Christie, 2.4 New Jerseyans were out of power as of Tuesday morning.
"The state is too tough to give in to this kind of devastation," Gov. Christie said.
Also, the governor said that Halloween could be rescheduled in wake of the storm, noting that he will make that determination by tomorrow.
Although downgraded from a hurricane, Sandy hit the New Jersey coast as a life-threatening post-tropical cyclone with sustained 80-mph winds, rainfall, and dangerous storm surge as it moved inland last night. It hit approximately five miles southwest of Atlantic City at 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
President Barack Obama has declared New Jersey a major disaster area.
