JCP&L prepared for hurricane

By KENNY WALTER
Staff Writer

UNION BEACH—Taking lessons learned from superstorm Sandy, JCP&L officials said they were prepared prior to the anticipated Hurricane Joaquin.

While Joaquin ventured away from New Jersey, about 15,000 JCP&L customers were impacted by the nor’easter that hit the state last Friday night into Saturday, according to company spokesman Ron Morano.

The company had contracted with 800 additional workers to assist the company’s 1,300 employees and 200 forestry contractors in the field in anticipation of the hurricane, Morano said Monday.

“We also had 150 additional hazard responders available to protect the public from downed wires and any other potentially hazardous situations,” Morano said.

Jim Fakult, JCP&L president, said during an October 2 press conference at the company’s Union Beach line shop, the electric company had been monitoring the storms for a number of days and prepared to limit service interruptions.

“Our preparations are underway,” Fakult said. “We’ve been tracking this for several days now, we opened up our emergency management command center.

Morano said the emergency command centerwasclosedSaturdayaftera2p.m. call with municipal officials to assess damage. But the company remained fully staffed to handle any power outages.

Fakult said JCP&L used lessons from Sandy to better prepare for the storm, including better protecting substations with more flood barriers, pumps and generators.

He also said the company planned to provide better communications during the storm, one of the main criticisms from superstorm Sandy, saying the 1,300 employees were ready for the storm.

“I have a lot of confidence in the job that they will do, quickly and safely restoring service,” Fakult said. “Probably one of the key lessons learned we have done a tremendous amount of outreach to our customers and elected officials.”

Fakult said JCP&L would utilize social media and the company’s website to alert customers on outages and estimate service restoration.

Lt. Govenor Kim Guadagno said residents should be prepared for the worst. She also said residents should visit ready.gov to better prepare for the storm and for tips on what to do during emergencies.

While JCP&L has prepared for the storm, Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith said borough personnel were ready as well.

“Our first responders are the backbone of our community, we’d be nothing without them,” he said. “Our guys are prepared, our public works has been out there building dunes and our emergency management has been monitoring the storm.”