Jackson Tornado Leaves Families Without Power in Pre-Pesach Rush

By Reuvain Borchardt

A tornado that hit near Jackson, New Jersey, on Saturday night did not cause any injuries but left a large portion of the township and some surrounding areas without power in the homestretch of Pesach preparations, and many may still have to wait more than 24 hours for power restoration.

The tornado hit approximately 7:30 p.m. — as storms were pummeling the tri-state area — around the border of Jackson and Howell, and also affected the Ridge neighborhood of Lakewood, fewer than 100 hours before the busiest pre-holiday season of the year.

“It is an inconvenient time for this to happen,” Chaveirim service coordinator Mordy Yellin told Hamodia on Sunday. “But it’s not up to us; Hashem runs the world, and we’re trying to cope the best we can.”

Yellin says Chaveirim began assisting in Lakewood and Jackson by putting down cones and caution tape to block off streets with downed trees or non-functioning traffic lights, and cutting trees that were blocking roadways or leaning on houses and cars. They also began providing generators for those with medical issues or on medical equipment, and providing generators with light towers to dark areas, and in which people could hook up an extension cord.

“It’s crazy; people are scrambling to figure things out,” said resident Yossel Housman. “It’s right before Pesach, and the vacuum cleaners and self-cleaning ovens don’t work.”

The biggest concern of many families is over the refrigerators and freezers that contain large quantities of food for the upcoming eight-day holiday.

Yellin says that food in a fully stocked freezer that remains closed can last 36-48 hours; emptier ones don’t last as long. As the hours go by, more and more people are calling for generators for their freezers and refrigerators, and generally growing more anxious.

“Some people need ovens to cook for Yom Tov; others are leaving town and need to do laundry,” Yellin says. “We’re tying to prioritize the generators we have, asking everyone to share with neighbors, run extension cords, so each house can plug in their fridge.”

Chaveirim members are also driving around hooking up generators to sump-pumps that many basements use, so the sewage doesn’t back up into the basement.

Jackson resident Mordechai Bernstein estimates that half of the township’s 2,500 Orthodox families are still without power. The local power company, JCP&L, says power should be restored in all Lakewood homes by 8 p.m. Sunday; Jackson residents may have to wait until as late as 6 p.m. Monday.

Bernstein, who has power, says four friends brought their cars to his home Sunday to hook up vacuums for their Pesach cleaning.

“Lots of people are calling Chaveirim for advice,” says Yellin. “The #1 thing we tell every person is to call JCP&L. Even if your neighbor called, every single phone call has an effect on the system to get the power up and running more quickly.

Yellin says he wishes to remind everyone that if they see downed power lines or trees, or traffic lights not working, to call the local police department.

“There’s definitely frustration,” says Bernstein, “but an understanding it’s out of our hands and hopefully the town is doing its best.”

One man visiting Jackson for Shabbos, who asked to be identified only as Ben Zion, decided to use the storm as a Pesach teaching moment.

“When hail started hitting our roof, I told my grandchildren, ‘That’s barad, listen to how much noise it makes,’” Ben Zion relates. “But they were disappointed when I told hail had no fire.”

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rborchardt@hamodia.com