Shelter created in Howell, thousands without power, roads remain closed after storm

Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

HOWELL — The Red Cross established a shelter at the Howell Senior Center, 251 Preventorium Road, for residents who have damage to their homes or lack power due to Saturday's tornado, which brought high winds to Jackson and Howell around 8 p.m.

Howell township officials asked their residents to report storm damage to the township Emergency Operations Center at 732-961-5100.

Jackson officials also were assessing the damage and declared an emergency for their township.

Trees and power lines took out two cars on Deer Lane in Jackson Township. National weather service confirmed a tornado touched down in Jackson township.
Trees and power lines took out two cars on Deer Lane in Jackson Township. National weather service confirmed a tornado touched down in Jackson township.

As of 11 a.m. Sunday, more than 10,000 Ocean County residents and businesses were without power; most of those customers were in Jackson, according to Jersey Central Power & Light Co. Another roughly 3,500 customers were without power in Monmouth County, and the majority of those were in Howell, according to the power company.

Jackson Police asked residents not to call police headquarters for updates on the power situation, but rather to call with other serious emergencies.

Workers from Anthony's Affordable Tree Care of Millintown, Nj, clear three propoerties on Lonbardi St. in Jackson that received extensive damage from the storm. Storm damage from storm front that moved through Saturday night in Jackson and Howell Townships.
Workers from Anthony's Affordable Tree Care of Millintown, Nj, clear three propoerties on Lonbardi St. in Jackson that received extensive damage from the storm. Storm damage from storm front that moved through Saturday night in Jackson and Howell Townships.

"Everyone is working diligently to open roadways and assist JCP&L in any way with power restoration," Jackson police wrote on their Facebook page. "In addition there is a Declaration of Emergency in effect so please limit your usual traffic today so that emergency services can focus on getting everything back in order."

As a result of the emergency declaration and nearby damage, Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari also closed to visitors on Sunday. Park spokeswoman Jennifer Mance said the theme parks sustained only minor damage and safari animals remained safe inside shelters. The park would reopen on Wednesday for Spring Break.

Storm: Tornado touched down in Jackson, Weather Service confirms

On Sunday, Jackson crews were working to reopen roads closed by storm debris and downed wires, including West Commodore Boulevard between Cedar Swamp and Diamond roads and North Cooksbridge between Rose and Willow drives. Debris also closed West County Line Road between Bennetts Mills Road and Villanova Drive, according to police.

In Howell, Route 9 northbound at Locust Avenue was detoured on Sunday morning, Lakewood-Allenwood Road was closed between Oak Glen Road and Arnold Boulevard, and Alexander Avenue was closed between Route 9 northbound and Maxim-Southard Road, according to township police. Lincoln Street, Route 547 (Squankum Road) between Oak Glen and Mill, and Addison Road were also closed on Sunday morning.

"Please DO NOT drive through closed roads, past barrels and cones, or over wires!" Jackson police wrote on Facebook. "This is for everyone's safety."

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Power outage in Howell: Shelter created for residents after tornado