Woodbridge Officials Unavailable to Clarify Party Plans at Evacuation Center

According to the Woodbridge Township website, a planned Halloween extravaganza at the Woodbridge Community Center this Saturday, Nov. 3, remains scheduled. The event, to start at 3 p.m., includes 'Trunk or Treating,' a costume contest, a haunted hayride and face painting.

However, the Community Center is still full with refugees from Hurricane Sandy who will be there at least through Monday, according to the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management. The building is a regional evacuation center in the event of emergency. As of Thursday there were about 80 people there, many of them from other towns, and some homeless from the hurricane.

Woodbridge Patch has made repeated calls to Mayor John McCormac's office and those of other township employees to seek clarification of the situation as well as the status of any township efforts regarding post-storm recovery. None of those calls had been returned as of late Friday morning.

It remains unclear if the planned Halloween activities will be outside the community center or inside, where Hurricane Sandy evacuees may still be sheltered on Saturday.

The YMCA, which is housed in the Community Center, is scheduled, according to the town's website, to be hosting at least some of these events inside the Community Center.

Several township residents who have phoned town hall to get storm-related information have told Patch they were unable to get answers or were referred to the township website. However, many Woodbridge residents are still without power and do not have Internet access. 

As of mid-morning on Friday, the website featured the following storm information:

HURRICANE SANDY
STORM ALERT ADVISORY 
THURS., NOV. 1, 2012

FEMA Federal Disaster Assistance Center Open
Residents and Businesses To File Damage Claim via On-Line Registration or by Calling: 
1-800-621-FEMA (3362)

Mayor John E. McCormac today advised Woodbridge Township homeowners, renters, and businesses whose properties were damaged as a result of Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29-30 to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – State of New Jersey Disaster Assistance Hotline.

Woodbridge Township residents and/or businesses should apply for federal disaster assistance through the FEMA on-line registration.  The FEMA website consolidates the application process across several federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration.  The website also reduces the number of forms required to be completed, shortens the time it takes to apply, and allows applicants to check application progress on-line.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. EDT seven days a week until further notice.  

Apply on-line at:

http://www.disasterassistance.gov
Web-Enabled Mobile Device at: atm.fema.gov
By Calling: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) 
1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for hearing & speech impaired

 Applicants will be asked to provide Social Security number, type of insurance coverage, family gross total income at the time of disaster, address and phone number where damage occurred, and current address and phone number if different than the location damaged.

 HALLOWEEN ADVISORY:

In accordance with the directive of Governor Christie, the traditional Halloween of door-to-door candy collecting will be postponed in Woodbridge Township until Mon., Nov. 5.

The Township will host a Halloween Party for residents on Sat., Nov. 3 at the Woodbridge Community Center (600 Main Street) from 3:00 -7:00 P.M. Residents are invited to bring candy and treats to the parking lot for “Trunk or Treating” from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M., followed by a Costume Contest at 5:00 P.M. and a Haunted Hayride at 6:00 P.M.  The Skyline golf facility will be open from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. for free miniature golf for everyone (weather permitting) and the YMCA will have a bounce house, face-painting, and other activities for the children.  All other scheduled Township Halloween events are cancelled and combined with this function.

 TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTION:

Thursday recycling will be collected on Fri., Nov. 2.  Friday recycling will be collected on Sat., Nov. 3.  Regular trash and recycling schedule resumes on Mon., Nov. 5.  Please secure trash containers. 

UTILITY SERVICE:

The Office of Emergency Management has established communications with the State and County Office of Emergency Management and Township utility and service agencies. Restoration of power and utility service is underway.  We do not have a timetable for the complete restoration of power.

Residents should continue tune to local TV news and weather reports, TV-35/36, or log-on to the Township Web Page for specific announcements. Woodbridge Township Reverse 9-1-1 alerts will be issued as necessary.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Clean-Up Guide After a Flood
CLICK for Information

 TRINITY CHURCH WILL BE GIVING OUT A CUP OF HOT SOUP AND BREAD FOR ANYONE IN NEED FROM 12 NOON – 2:00 PM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND AT 650 RAHWAY AVE, WOODBRIDGE.TAKE OUT ONLY.  CLICK FOR INFO

The Regional Blood Center advises that more than 5000 units of blood have been lost due to Hurricane Sandy.  The New Jersey Blood Service Organization has scheduled a blood drive in Avenel:

Sat., Nov. 3, 2012 ~ 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Avenel Knights of Columbus
109 Morrissey Ave., Avenel 
For more information:
1-800-933-BLOOD
Shauna Lynch
New Jersey Blood Services
732-616-8736

***IF YOUR APPLIANCES FAIL DURING A POWER OUTAGE...
Follow this advice on keeping your food safe.

Click here for Health Dept. tip sheet.

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