A summer storm turned a holiday weekend into a cleanup operation across the Summit area, leaving thousands without power and emergency crews scrambling to respond.
The Morris County 9-1-1 Center handled more than 4,000 calls Friday night as 60-mph winds toppled trees and power lines — compared with about 120 calls during a typical evening.
The storm knocked out power to 325,000 customers across northern New Jersey and forced Summit and Chatham to cancel their Fourth of July fireworks celebrations.
By Tuesday, July 7, most major outages were improving, but pockets of residents remained without electricity:
- Summit: About 600 customers without power
- Chatham Township: About 500 households affected
- New Providence: 480 customers affected, with some road closures remaining
- Berkeley Heights: 445 customers affected, down from 1,200
JCP&L said more than 1,700 workers were involved in restoration efforts, including crews brought in from outside the area.
Local officials also raised concerns about communication during the recovery, with Berkeley Heights leaders criticizing the utility over delayed outage updates.
Emergency crews continue clearing trees and addressing storm damage. Residents should stay away from any downed wires and report hazards to 911.
