Irene: About 8,000 PSE&G Customers Without Power

With about 8,000 PSE&G customers and 79 JCP&L customers still without power in Bridgewater, the township has offered tips and information for keeping food safe during a power outage.

PSE&G spokeswoman Deann Muzikar said they are hoping to restore power for the majority of customers within 48 hours, but that total restoration could take four to six days.

There are a total of about 38,000 PSE&G customers without power in Somerset County as a whole.

“We will have to wait and see because there are a lot of elements,” Muzikar said. “We need to wait for waters to recede because of safety issues. Once it does and is safe, we will get in and restore power as quickly as possible.”

The township, through the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services has offered tips for keeping families safe with a loss of power.

According to the release, the refrigerator temperature should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit during a normal day, with a freezer temperature at 0 degrees, to allow for foods to stay cold for a longer time during a power loss.

Food in the refrigerator, according to the release, should be safe if power is out for less than two hours.

There are several guidelines to follow if the power is out for longer than two hours, or if there is flooding in a home:

• A half-full freezer will keep food safe for 24 hours, while a full freezer will keep it safe for up to 48 hours.
• In the refrigerator, milk, dairy products, meat, fish, eggs and spoilable leftovers can be put into a cooler surrounded by clean ice or dry ice.
• A food service thermometer can be used to check the temperature of the food before it is eaten or cooked. Food with temperature greater than 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be thrown away.
• Food items that are thawed and contain ice crystals, or that are 40 degrees or below, can be cooked or refrozen after the power comes back.
• Food not in a waterproof container, which could come into contact with flood or storm water, should be thrown away, as should food containers with screw-off caps, snap lids and pull tops.
• Cardboard drink boxes and home canned foods that may have come in contact with flood waters should be thrown away.
• All canned foods should be inspected for damages.
• Fruits and vegetables should be washed in safe water.
• Try to use canned formulas that do not require water for infants, and use bottled water if giving concentrated or powdered formulas.

For more information, call the Bridgewater Division of Health at 908-725-5750 or health@bridgewaternj.gov.