Chatham Borough Police Chief Brian Gibbons has called the Friday, July 3 windstorm "one of the most complex weather events" to hit the borough in decades, detailing how officers and public works crews managed what TAPinto Chatham reported as hundreds of storm-related actions over nearly a week of recovery.

Gibbons' account, reported by TAPinto Chatham on Monday, July 14, is the most detailed operational debrief from a named Chatham public safety official on the storm that snapped utility poles, downed wires, closed roads, and damaged trees across the borough. Crews also kept critical sewer pumps running on generators throughout the multi-day response.

The storm struck the evening of July 3 with wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. By noon on Saturday, July 4, more than 530 homes and businesses had lost power, according to Jersey Central Power & Light. The outages forced cancellation of Chatham's 72nd Fourth of July Parade and fireworks display.

Across northern New Jersey, JCP&L reported 190,000 customers affected. Utility repair crews were brought in from as far as Canada to assist with road clearing and grid repairs, according to an update from Chatham Township Mayor Jennifer Rowland on Monday, July 7.

Mayor Carolyn Dempsey said in a Saturday, July 11 message to residents that power had been restored to all 517 JCP&L customers in Chatham Borough who lost electricity in the storm. The higher initial outage count of 530-plus reflected real-time JCP&L estimates on July 4; Dempsey's figure represents the utility's final tally of affected borough accounts.

Dempsey called it "the most destructive storm to affect Chatham Borough in more than a decade" and said no serious injuries were reported.

She praised Gibbons and the police department for working around the clock to close dangerous roadways, direct traffic, respond to emergencies, and check on residents. She also recognized DPW Director Tony Torello, whose crews cleared fallen trees and debris starting in the earliest hours of the storm, and Borough Administrator Steve Williams, who coordinated communications among the police, fire department, emergency squad, DPW, and utility partners.

Emergency Management Coordinator Steven Davenport is documenting storm damages and compiling costs for potential FEMA reimbursement, according to Dempsey's message.

The Library of the Chathams and the Chatham Senior Center opened as cooling centers and charging stations over the July 4 holiday weekend for residents without electricity.

The borough's final curbside brush collection from storm debris began Monday, July 13, with DPW crews making one pass through town. Residents who missed the deadline will need to arrange private removal.