It is very nice of Summit to open their doors to residents of Short Hills and Millburn. I am glad they figured out how to balance educational needs, athletic practices, and the need to keep people warm and safe

*Optional* athletic practices in MHS takes priority over the safety of residents? I don't want to push all the responsibility onto the schools to provide shelter and safe haven but it is the largest self contained structure we have in this town. In certain circumstances, those structures should be utilized optimally.

No one showed up because:
- no one knew about it
- it was offered three days into this emergency
- 7-11pm? No one who has lost power is going to venture out with the kids at night to go to a warming center for a few hours.
- there doesn't seem to be a standard operating procedure that the community and town council follow during emergencies.

These actions should be planned and documented - it feels like this was an after-thought and the community's reception is a good barometer to the level of planning that went into it.

I didn't show up because it wasn't going to be open all night. We stayed with my 3 young kids in a cold, powerless, house, but there was no point in bringing them somewhere from 7pm to 11pm.

The township leadership is complete joke. I feel for bourke because I don't have power either. Glad his son got to attend practice while others of us may have to split our usual full day work days in less than half to coordinate alternative childcare options and commuting to work from relatives over an hour away, where in our for instance, our 2 yr old son has insisted on sleeping on the floor because hes not comfortable with his temporary bedding. Thanks for the offer from the TC to attend their election week hospitality but couldn't make it due to late notice and I'm not sure my 2 yr old wouldve appreciated being woken up, picked up from the floor, and driven an hour only to be sent away when the party was over. Apologies for the run-ons here but I figured I'd rant like an idiot because thats what our leadership thinks we are.

I don't know why a town filled with so many academics has leaders that run the town in such a sloppy, reactive manner. I first noticed this trend with the BOE--no strategic plan, flying by the seat of their pants, making decisions on the go..... I am pleased that that seems to be reversing somewhat with Dr. Crisfield at the helm. I had hoped, at least, the township was being run better than the board and having met some of those folks here and there, I liked them. I was a big fan of the mayor--defended her during Irene. I kept my eye on the parking lot brouhaha and had a few concerns. Still- I don't know--I naively thought people learn from their mistakes.

So here we are shortly after Irene and we are still getting information piece meal and sadly, it's obvious there is no disaster planning in place. No coordination. An amazing amount of laissez-faire about all of this. "Let the parents decide" if they should trick or treat despite known and varied safety hazards. Let the families fend for themselves to find shelter. Let the people scavenger for information about road closings, school conditions etc.

If this was the way it was all over, I'd probably just fold up my arms and let it go. However---other towns are just way better run.

Maybe we need new leaders; but maybe the leaders we have should just audit what other towns are doing and learn from those things. Communication, planning--these are not hard skills to learn and execute.

PS. I don't know why but every time I got to type "mayor" my fingers seem to type "major".... I corrected it but it has happened just about every time!

I agree with all the comments esp regarding the warming center. What a joke. At least we were finally made aware that summit has a 24 hour shelter Of course we have to fend for ourselves. And they will argue no one showed up when it's their fault for poor planning. Please send these comments directly to Tim Gordon business administrator. I complained we had no shelters in an email yesterday and one did finally show up useless as it was.

I also don't get the lack of ability to show us the damage. To Laura griffin why aren't there articles with pictures as to where the major damage is? Other Patch sites have posted street closings. If the streets have been closed all this time it would be helptul to post that REGULARLY and NOT buried in an article about something else. This is not a criticism but a suggestion for IMPROVEMENT.

On the Summit town website there is an estimate on how many homes will be getting back power each day. Has our mayor gotten that for our town? What neighborhoods are being brought back when? Has anyone in Millburn/Short Hills gotten power back yet?

Thanks for the info JJSH, appreciate you sharing

ALL of Madison was without power after the storm, but its mayor managed to get JCP&L to restore all power within a day. I wish we had that kind of leadership.

Just saw 5 utility trucks heading east on Parsonage Hill Rd. Hope they're coming to get the schools back up and running. There is a staging area at the Livingston Mall (just like after Irene) with utility trucks from other states.

Apparently, there are street by street estimates available for Springfield of when power will be restored. Where is this information for Millburn/Short Hills?

http://www.zashehady.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Schedule.pdf

all of my fingers are crossed Susan1 but we saw the same thing last night and I followed them down parsonage hill, old short hills rd, main st and watched as they rode off toward Springfield. Please anyone advise if they see anything else today

I've gotten information from JCP&L & FirstEnergy that forestry crews are hitting the area soon if not already to start getting trees out of the way with line crews to be called in as soon as they start getting tree debris cleared.

That's good to hear but why are the forestry crews just starting NOW? Could they have been working before this?