Power Protection FEATURED ARTICLE

If you were in the tri-state area this weekend, then you’ll have without a doubt witnessed a brief yet very powerful storm which disappeared just as quickly as it surged through. Televisions blasted cautionary statements which left many wondering if they should remove objects which could be blown away outside, get candles and flashlights on the ready, and even retreat into the basement for protection. Many thought this would be just another memorable notch on Mother Nature’s belt, where she’s been seemingly throwing derechos left and right as if playing a violent game of Yahtzee, yet it seems to be much different than the rest.

Some semi-serious blogs even went so far to compare this impending wreck to a similar storm in 1998 which killed 13 New Yorkers, as well as the Washington D.C. storm which killed as many as 23 and left the area out of power for an entire week. The derecho – or many big thunderstorms combined into one massive, overtaking storm – was expected to produce winds higher than 60 mph a well as hail, torrential rain and possibly even flash flooding.

It seemed that as quickly as it got pitch black and extremely windy outside, it had already cleared up and everything seemed just fine. While some did report nerve-wracking incidents – my sister, for example, could feel her Washington Heights apartment literally shaking mid-storm – most individuals remained safe and sound.

Thousands of New Jersey residents weren’t so lucky, however. After the storm packed its bags and left, central New Jersey suffered massive amounts of damage. After the powerful storm burst through the area Saturday night, thousands witnessed power outages as well as knocked down trees; motorists were even left flooded on roadways. In fact, police had to rescue these stranded motorists by boat due to such intense flooding.

The storm – while momentary – came fully equipped with heavy rains and lightening, hitting both Monmouth and Ocean counties early Saturday afternoon. Sections of Middlesex as well as the majority of Bergen and Passaic also suffered the abrasive aftermath, totaling to around 30,000 people losing power during the storm.

Jersey Central Power & Light have reported that over 1,400 customers currently remain powerless, with most of them residing in the Freehold area. Not only were fallen power lines cleaned up and roads were blocked, but Freehold’s Mayor intervened with a dusk to dawn curfew. Entrance into the area was even forbid due to the extreme damage observed.

“An absolute war zone was how Freehold looks on Sunday night as crews work in the dark around the clock to bring some order back to the borough. Many residents, who are surviving with candles and generators, are convinced this was no ordinary mid-summer night's storm,” ABC reported.

The storm gained power as it crossed Eastern Pennsylvania between 4 and 5 PM, which landed at New Jersey’s shore areas anytime between 7 and 10 PM before heading back out to sea around 11 PM, according to Dan Pydynowski, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com.

These types of storms are short yet still clearly unpredictable and very powerful. Needless to say, power protection products and solutions are essential to keeping oneself safe, secure and with a peace of mind. Click here to check out some reliable power protection options from a trusted provider and industry leader.

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