Number of Households Without Power in Long Branch Increases

Many Long Branch residents are still on the dark on Monday morning, as JCP&L is reporting an increase in power outages in Long Branch and West Long Branch.

In Long Branch, JCP&L is reporting that 3,920 people are without power, as of 4:03 p.m., compared to 1,399 Monday morning.

West Long Branch had 0 outages Monday morning, but that number has climbed to 81, according to JCP&L.

The Long Branch Office of Emergency Management sent out the following Code Red message on Monday afternoon:

City officials understand that a large number of residents are still without power. We have been working diligently with officials from JCP&L to expedite the restoration of your service. If you are without power please contact JCP&L at 1-888-LIGHTSS. As of 3pm today, the city will closing it's emergency operation center, so if you need further information in reference to your power restoration, please contact JCP&L directly.

At least some of the power outages in Long Branch are around the area of Howland Avenue and Ocean Avenue, where what officials are calling a "potential tornado" touched down and ripped the roof off an apartment and destroyed telephone poles.

As a result of the destruction, there is a detour on Ocean Avenue from Matilda Terrace to West End Avenue that is causing traffic delays in both directions.

The West Long Branch Police are saying that JCP&L has advised them that power in the borough "may be off and/or interrupted over the next several days as they repair the damage caused by the hurricane."

"Borough services are aware of this issue and are prepared to respond to emergencies," police said.