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Power Surge: Woodbridge Residents Seek to Refuel Generators, Cars, and Cell Phones

The urge for fuel of all kinds brought people from the township - and others miles away - out in search of gasoline and electricity.

 
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Whether you were fueling your car or trying to fill a gas can to feed a thirsty generator, it was a nightmare throughout central New Jersey in the wake of no electricity from Hurricane Sandy.

Gas lines snaked up and down Route 9 and Route 1, and anywhere you could find a gas station that was open, had electricity to pump gas, and had enough supplies to feed customers who desperately needed fuel.

Gas consumers from the southern part of the state made their way to Woodbridge in search of fuel. Some people were so desperate and had come such a long way that when they got into a line, some of them ran out of gas before they got to their turn in line.

The gas lines brought out Woodbridge police to keep order and keep the lines moving. People who just wanted to refill their gas containers for at-home generators parked their cars and stood in a pedestrian line, waiting their turn.

Traffic anywhere near a gas station was simply murder. While schools were closed and many businesses were still closed because power hadn't yet been restored in their section of the township, people were out and about: some because they had cabin fever, but many more because they needed an outlet to recharge cell phones and laptops - and that's if they could find Internet access.

"It's crazy," said Cathy Morgan, who was trying to find a store locally that would let her plug in her electronic gadgets. "If you can find someplace, there are five people waiting in line in front of you."

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About this column: News and essential information about Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Related Topics: Fuel Shortage, Gasoline lines, Hess, Hurricane Sandy, and Wawa

Tamara Winfrey

4:33 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

So the police are shutting down people for selling gas? Are they the police or the mafia??

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Cherylanne

7:23 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

I don't see anywhere in the article that says the police were doing anything so where did that comment come from. could not see the video so maybe it is in there somewhere.

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slyfox1961

7:56 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

@cherylanne: ignore her, she's a sensationalist Patch contributor who thinks she is a journalist.

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Deborah Bell

8:20 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

Cherylanne, the man in the video is talking about police stopping service stations in his area from selling gas because they needed to apply for a police escort (and apparently pay for it.) The man is talking about his town further south, not Woodbridge (he came here to get gas cause he can't get it locally.)

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Tamara Winfrey

9:24 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

I totally agree with slyfox; I am pretty sensational!

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ThomS

9:46 am on Friday, November 2, 2012

Some hillbilly from Morganville was making a comment about stations not paying for police escort getting shut down. Believe it, no.

Tamara Winfrey

1:07 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

You know there is no reason to be disrespectful to Appalachian-Americans by hurling around generalizations and pejorative terms like hillbilly.

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Leisha Tringali

2:53 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012

If it is an electric gas pump - use electric pump and car battery - This will pump the gas for 1 or 5 gallons.

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