Community Corner

Lawrence Township: What's Going On With Sandy?

Help us keep an up-to-date record about how Hurricane Sandy impacts Lawrence Township. Tell us what's happening on your street. Post your storm photos here for everyone to see.

Please help Lawrenceville Patch document what happens in Lawrence Township as Hurricane Sandy storms through.

We are monitoring local police, fire and EMS radio frequencies and will do our best to stay in contact with local emergency officials to provide you are accurate and timely information about what's going on as possible.

But we need your help. Please tell us in the comments section below what's happening on your street and what you are doing to ride out the storm. Post you photos here as well for all to see.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, above all, keep yourselves and your families safe.  

 

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tuesday, Oct. 30

 

10 a.m.: According to the latest storm update posted on the township's website, "an estimated 75 percent of Lawrence Township is without power."

8 a.m.: Since dawn, additional downed trees, wires and structural damage have been reported throughout town. Firefighters have responded to a few false fire alarm calls in the Rosedale Road area caused by the power disruptions. Province Line Road is closed between Rosedale Road and Players Lane due to a large tree that has fallen across the roadway. The intersections of Carter Road and Cold Soil Road is also reportedly blocked by a fallen tree. Emergency officials are reminding residents not to approach any downed wires as they may still be energized.

4 a.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that more than 1.2 million of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power "due to the extreme wind and severe flooding resulting from the storm surge, which affected a large number of substations in Essex, Hudson and Middlesex counties. PSE&G has taken these stations out of service until the water recedes, the equipment can be cleaned and dried, and the stations can be safely re-energized. These stations serve about 462,000 customers."

3:30 a.m. (approx.): Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Whitehead Road involving an allegedly intoxicated driver.

12:20 a.m.: Police reporting large tree down on Alcazar Avenue.

12:05 a.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that over one million of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power, including more than 10,000 customers in Lawrence Township.

 

Monday, Oct. 29

 

11:15 p.m.: All three township volunteer fire companies responded to a tree down on a house on Twin Oaks Drive. Electrical wire also on the ground. Area around downed wire secured with caution tape and nearby residents advised to keep away.

10:30 p.m.: Emergency officials are reporting significant damage to homes and businesses throughout the township caused by Hurricane Sandy's strong winds and falling trees. Numerous utility poles are damaged and live power lines on the ground.

9:45 p.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that about 700,000 of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power.

9:30 p.m.: Electrical wire on fire on Rider University campus. Nearby West Village dormitory evacuated as a precaution.

9:00 p.m.: Numerous large trees are down and overhead electrical wires damaged along Princeton Pike near Stonicker Drive.

9:00 p.m.: Fackler Road is completely impassable due to multiple trees down in areas of Deer Run and Teak Lane.

8:55 p.m.: All three Lawrence Township volunteer fire companies dispatched for smoke in an apartment building on Cole Lane. No fire located.

8:50 p.m.: Police reporting a light pole is down, blocking northbound lanes of Route 1 near Carnegie Avenue.

8:45 p.m.: Police officers dispatched to investigate reports of a tree on a house in the 2700 block of Princeton Pike, and a tree on a parked vehicle on Ohio Avenue.

8:45 p.m.: PSE&G reporting between 5,001 and 10,000 of its customers in Lawrence Township are currently without power.

8:41 p.m.: Large tree in roadway, Princeton Pike near Ben Franklin Elementary School.

8:39 p.m.: Darrah Lane is completely blocked due to a large tree and power lines down in the roadway near Birchwood Knoll.

8:20 p.m.: Route 206 (Lawrence Road/Main Street) is completely impassable due to a large tree that has fallen across the road, bringing down a utility pole and wires. Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Co. on the scene. 

8:15 p.m.: Route 206 (Lawrence Road) is completely blocked due to a large pine tree that fell across the road between Lawrence Avenue and Forrest Avenue.

8 p.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that about 400,000 of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power.

8 p.m.: A Large tree has fallen onto a house in the 1300 block of Route 206 (Lawrence Road), with damage to the roof. Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. on location.

7:51 p.m.: Pine Knoll Drive blocked by fallen tree.

7:39 p.m.: Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. dispatched to investigating possible wires down and sparking in 700 block of Bunker Hill Avenue.

7:30 p.m.: Latest update on township website: "With downed wires and trees throughout the town residents are urged to remain indoors. The (609) 896-0225 police telephone is out of service. All inquiries should be made using (609) 896-1111." In addition to road closures already reported on Gainsboro Road and Gedney Road, Willow Road is closed due to a fallen tree.

7:20 p.m.: Large tree down on Gedney Road completely blocking roadway between Princeton Pike and Fieldboro Drive.

7:10 p..m.: Fallen power line burning in woods near Johnson Trolley Line footpath off Eggerts Crossing Road. Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. responded but unable to extingiuish fire due to wires still being energized. PSE&G notified of situation.

7:00 p.m.: Fallen power line actively arcing on ground, area of Province Line Road and Stratford Drive. Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Co. responded but unable to do anything due to wires still being energized.

6:49 p.m.: Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Co. dispatched for a downed electrical wire arcing on the ground in the area of Wexford Drive and Little Circle.

6 p.m.: Power out in Eldridge Park neighborhood. Lawrence Road firehouse operating on limited power supplied by emergency generator.

5:45 p.m.: Road blocked by fallen tree in area of Lawrencia Drive and Winthrop Road.

5:30 p.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that about 156,000 of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power.

5:30 p.m.: Tree reported to be down, blocking the roadway, on Berwyn Place. 

5:22 p.m.: Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. dispatched to an electrical transformer fire in area of 280 Egerts Crossing Rd.

5:20 p.m.: Tree reported to be leaning against overhead electrical wires in the 900 block of Mulberry Street.

5:15 p.m.: According to the township's website, all Lawrence Township municipal offices - including municipal court - will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 30. "All matters will be rescheduled by mail. Anyone with a change of address should contact the court office to provide an updated address."

5:15 p.m.:  A tree has fallen into Building 15 of the White Pine Apartments, off White Pine Circle. Due to damage to the structure, a township building inspector has been requested to the scene by police.

5 p.m.: Tree down in 100 block of Drift Avenue.

4:45 p.m.: Utility pole (with an electrical transformer on it) reported to be in danger of falling in front of First Choice Bank on Whitehead Road.

4:40 p.m.: Police and Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. on scene with a tree into a house on Darrah Lane, with possible damage to the roof.

4:35 p.m.: Police reporting damage to the roof of P.C. Richards in the 3300 block of Route 1 (Brunswick Pike).

4:30 p.m.: Large tree limb down partially blocking road in front of 184 Darrah Lane.

4:15 p.m.: Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. investigating a possible electrical transformer fire in the 200 block of Bakers Basin Road.

4:10 p.m.: Police reporting a tree is down on Allegheny Avenue.

4 p.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that about 93,500 of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power.

3:46 p.m.: Email from Patch reader Ravi - "Power restored on Carver Place(close to Yeger Drive) as of about 30 mins ago."

3:45 p.m.: Firefighters and police dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a residence on Sherman Place. No fire; "smoke" determined to be steam from a clothes dryer vent.

3:44 p.m.: Police reporting multiple trees down near 145 and 200 Carter Rd., partially blocking roadway.

3:42 p.m.: Utility pole snapped at its base on Gainsboro Road. Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. and police on the scene. 

3:17 p.m.: A tree has fallen, completely blocking the roadway, in the area of 8 Tall Timbers Rd., according to police.

3:05 p.m.: Police are preparing to evacuate the Red Roof Inn in the 3200 block of Route 1 (Brunswick Pike). As you may recall, the Red Roof Inn flooded during Hurricane Irene last year and over 100 people had to be evacuated by firefighters using boats.  

3 p.m.: PSE&G is now reporting that about 36,000 of its customers throughout New Jersey are without power.

3 p.m.: Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. is now posting storm updates via the emergency alerting system Nixle. Click here to follow them. Lawrence Road Fire Chief Shaun Dlabik is urging residents to stay indoors during the storm and not to venture outside to see what is going on, particularly when emergency personnel are operating in the area. Severe wind, trees falling without warning and live electrical wires that have dropped to the ground are among the many dangerous - and potentially deadly - hazards that you could encounter.  

2:55 p.m.: According to PSE&G's power outage map, there are between 5,001 and 10,000 customers without power in Mercer County, with between 501 and 2,000 of them in Lawrence Township.

2:53 p.m.: Email from Patch reader Scott: "Power's out on Yeger Dr. Not sure if its related to the incidents you reported on the Patch but its been out since around 2:20 p.m. or so."

2:02 p.m.: Fire officials report that a PSE&G representative is on scene and has shut off power to the downed wire in the 800 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206). The roadway is being reopened at this time, however Irwin Place remains closed due to a fallen tree.

2:02 p.m.: Patch reader Bree points out that the Mercer County website announced the following closures for Tuesday (Oct. 30): "Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes has called for all Mercer County Offices to be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 30, because of severe weather. Only essential personnel should report. All branches of the Mercer County Library, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, the Mercer County Parks Commission, the Office of the Mercer County Clerk, Office of the Mercer County Surrogate, and the Mercer County Administration building also will be closed. County services such as the Sheriff's Office and the Corrections Center will remain open and will follow normal schedules."

1:58 p.m.: Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Co. responding to investigate a report that shingles have blown off the roof of a home on Nassau Drive.

1:55 p.m.: PSE&G reporting that, at the moment, between 501 and 2,000 customers are without power throughout Lawrence Township.

1:40 p.m.: Lawrence Township just announced that Tuesday's (Oct. 30) trash collection is cancelled. The next trash pickup for that zone is currently scheduled for the following Tuesday, Nov. 6.

1:35 p.m.: Utility pole snapped, with live electrical wire on the ground, in 800 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206). Wire is arcing. Power reported to be out to homes in area, including Devon Avenue. Traffic light at Princeton Pike and Texas Avenue is without power. Police and Lawrence Road Volunteer Fire Co. currently have Route 206 closed to keep public away from the fallen wire.

1:20 p.m.: Large tree reported to be resting against overhead electrical wires, posing a concern as the wind increases, in area of 47 Van Kirk Rd. PSE&G notified of the situation by police. 

12 p.m.: PSE&G is currently reporting that in Mercer County there are fewer than 500 customers without power, spread throughout Lawrence, Ewing, Trenton, Princeton Township, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, and Pennington Borough.   

11:40 a.m.: Mandatory evacuations are underway - under police supervision - at the Sleep-E-Hollow Motel, Mount's Motel and Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge along Route 1, near Bakers Basin Road and Franklin Corner Road. That area experienced significant flooding last year during Hurricane Irene.

10:30 a.m.: Police reporting large tree limb down in front of Wells Fargo Bank, 100 block of Franklin Corner Road.

9:30 a.m.: PSE&G now reporting that less than 500 Lawrence Township customers are without power.

9:15 a.m.: It's not Lawrence Township, but Ewing Township police just broadcast a countywide crime alert for a suspect wanted in an armed robbery that just took place at a diner on North Olden Avenue. The suspect passed a demand note, acted as if he had a gun in his pocket, and fled with less than $100 in cash, according to the alert. No weapon was observed.

9:15 a.m.: Power restored to some homes in Lawrenceville-Pennington Road area.

7:15 a.m. (approx): Electrical transformer explosion reported behind 51 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Police and Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Co. responded. Power out to homes and traffic lights in the area. Between 501 and 2,000 Lawrence Township residents affected, according to PSE&G power outage map.

 

 

Previous Mercer County-Specific Hurricane Sandy Coverage:

  • Oct. 29: ""
  • Oct. 29: "Mercer County Residents Urged to 'Shelter in Place'"
  • Oct. 28: “Mercer County Braces for Storm”
  • Oct. 28: “No Unauthorized Travel Allowed After 6 Tonight as Lawrence Township Declares State of Emergency”
  • Oct. 28: “
  • Oct. 27: “Lawrence Township Braces for Hurricane Sandy”
  • Oct. 27: “Princeton Prepares for Hurricane Sandy”
  • Oct. 27: “'Limited' State of Emergency Declared in Mercer County”
  • Oct. 27: “Area Municipalities Prepare For Sandy
  • Oct. 26: “Mercer County Mobilizes Resources in Advance of Sandy”
  • Oct. 26: “County Executive Urges Residents to Prepare for Sandy”


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