Hurricane Sandy

Middlesex and Mercer Counties Hardest Hit by Nor'easter Athena, says PSEG

The two central New Jersey counties had the highest impact from Wednesday's storm that brought heavy, wet snow and downed power lines to the area.

Middlesex and Mercer Counties took the brunt of Nor'easter Athena's heavy, sodden snow Wednesday, said Ralph LaRossa, president and chief operating officer of PSE&G in a morning conference call. LaRossa said he had had a meeting with mayors from the area in East Brunswick yesterday when a 69,000 volt line in the substation there blew but was quickly repaired. As of Thursday morning, 40,000 PSE&G customers were impacted by up to six inches of snow from the nor'easter, while 70,000 customers were still suffering from the lack of electricity from Hurricane Sandy last week. "We've been making fantastic progress," LaRossa said, pointing out that many of the linemen, including ones from states that have never seen snow in Athena quantities, …

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Hurricane Sandy

County Urges Residents to Conserve Fuel and Water

Road conditions are still hazardous and shelters are open.

As recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy get under way, Middlesex County Freeholder Director Christopher D. Rafano urges residents to limit travel within Middlesex County and conserve fuel and water. “Currently, road conditions are still quite hazardous with downed trees and power lines, and loss of traffic signals,” Freeholder Director Rafano said. “For your safety, we are requesting that residents limit their travel as much as possible until further notice. This will allow emergency vehicles and power company crews to quickly and safely respond to emergency calls and conduct power restoration efforts. It also will assist in fuel conservation efforts.” Water treatment plants throughout the county are not at full capacity due to Hurricane …

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‘Significant’ Seepage Found in Dam, Cranbury’s Lake Drained for Safety

A $3 million dam rehabilitation project had been scheduled to start this year.

Cranbury's Brainerd Lake was drained Wednesday after a “significant” amount of water was seeping through the dam around the spillway, according to officials. The DEP’s Dam Safety Department, the county's engineering department and consultants, Cranbury staff members and Mayor David Cook, met at the dam Wednesday and determined the water was getting through the west side of the bridge’s foundation.  “The inspection revealed significant seepage on downstream side of the dam adjacent to culvert, not flowing through the culvert, but under and through the downstream masonry wall,” said DEP spokesman Larry Hajna, noting that before the lake was drained the water level had dropped a foot. The lake was drained to avoid damage under the roadbed and…

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Sixth Rabies Case Reported in Middlesex County

A bat that tested positive for rabies in North Brunswick is the sixth positive specimen in Middlesex County this year.

A bat tested positive for rabies in North Brunswick in the vicinity of Masoma Road and Axel Avenue this week. This is the first positive rabies specimen in North Brunswick this year, and the sixth in Middlesex County. Immediately report any bites from a wild or domestic animal to your local health department and consult a physician as soon as possible. Rabies is caused by a virus which can infect all warm-blooded mammals, including man. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of a rabid animal and is transmitted by a bite, or possibly by contamination of an open cut. New Jersey is enzootic for raccoon and bat variants of rabies. Bats, raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, foxes, cats, and dogs represent about 95 percent of animals diagnosed with …

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The Most Common Voter Surname in Middlesex County?

Among Middlesex County voters, it's not Smith or Brown - although both made the list.

What do you think the most common last name is among residents who vote in Middlesex County? Smith? Brown? No - although both surnames were on the Top Ten list of the names you'd be most likely to find on voter rolls, they were far outstripped by surnames that show the changing demographics of Middlesex County. The most ubiquitous last name on the county's voter registration rolls is Patel, according to Don Katz, Republican State Committeeman for Middlesex County who also serves as counsel to the Middlesex County Republican Organization.  Patel is a common Indian surname, especially among the large Indian populations of South Brunswick, Edison and in the 'Little India' section of Iselin in Woodbridge. In the county, 7,869 voters have the …

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Stray Cat in Cranbury Tests Positive for Rabies

The animal was brought to Cranbury after it was found in Burlington Township.

Middlesex County Office of Health Services is asking residents to report animals who show signs of unusual behavior after a stray cat in Cranbury tested positive for rabies on May 17, making it the third rabid animal in the county in 2012.  The cat was brought to a resident’s house in Cranbury after it was found coming out of the woods in Burlington Township in Burlington County, according to a news release. It was later brought to the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center and the cat was sent to the state’s Department of Health laboratory for testing on May 15. Seven people had contact with the stray cat between the two counties, and all have been advised to speak with a physician. Rabies can be transmitted by a bite or contamination of an open …

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Severe Weather Possible in Mercer, Middlesex Counties

A flood watch has been issued.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning and a flood watch for Mercer and Middlesex counties. A severe weather statement issued Saturday night said some thunderstorms could produce 60 mph winds. Two to three-and-a-half inches of rain is possible by Sunday evening and colder weather is anticipated following the storms. The National Weather Service was calling for an overnight low around 51 degrees and winds around 11 mph, as of around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management said a nor’easter would impact the state on Sunday. The National Weather Service asks that hail or strong winds be reported by calling 1-877-633-6772.

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Christie Seeking Federal Relief for October Snowstorm

Governor seeks disaster relief for Middlesex County.

Gov. Chris Christie has asked federal officials to declare Middlesex County and ten other New Jersey counties as a major disaster area in response to the Oct. 29 snowstorm. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Christie noted the widespread power outages and damage caused by the historic storm. The governor also pointed to at least five deaths caused by the storm. In Bergen County, two people died in a Teaneck house fire, and a man was killed in a fire in Franklin Lakes. A 64-year-old Teaneck man was also killed in what state police said was a storm-related accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. “The unique, unseasonal nature of this storm, particularly in its impact on trees and power lines, rivaled the affects of Hurricane Irene in many …

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