Local communities were still cleaning up after Hurricane Irene last week, but nearly all residents of Edison and Metuchen had power restored by Friday.
Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano said there may be a few small pockets without power going into the weekend. Metuchen Mayor Thomas Vahalla said he was told that every residence in the borough had electricity restored by Friday.
Many residents were disposing of items destroyed by flooding. Ricigliano said bulk pickup of large household items ruined in the storm had already begun late last week.
In Metuchen, bulk pickup began Thursday and was continuing this week.
The Edison Department of Public Works announced that garbage and recycling pickup is on its regular schedule. It said trees blocking roadways were a priority, and trees leaning against wires could only be removed with PSE&G approval.
Ricigliano said the township is waiving permit fees for replacing hurricane-related installations of water heaters, furnaces, boilers, electric panels, appliances, finished basements and other items. Contractors may perform such work under emergency conditions; however, they must file for the required permits within three business days.
Many residents of Edison and Metuchen were without power for several days after theAug. 25 hurricane brought flooding and downed trees and power lines.
The mayors for both towns said that emergency crews were worked hard to clean up, restore power and control traffic after the storm.
Vahalla said all streets in the borough were currently open by Friday.
“My street on University Avenue and Midland Avenue were the last to open because of downed wires and trees,” he said. “This storm hit us hard, it was tough.”
— Kathy Chang