Inspectors Descend on Brick Neighborhoods in Power Restoration Quest

Update: 11:46 a.m. - The township is reporting 16 crews performing electrical inspections Tuesday.

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By Tuesday morning, only six electrical customers in Brick Township were without power.

But Jersey Central Power and Light's map of outages reflected the number of homes without power where power would otherwise be available. Some township neighborhoods remain in the dark as inspectors continue to comb through storm-ravaged sections to determine whether it is safe to let the electricity flow again.

Nine inspectors from the state joined township inspectors Monday in a process of restoring power to Shore Acres, Baywood and other neighborhoods near Barnegat Bay. The longevity of power outages in those areas led to a rift emerging between the township and JCP&L over the weekend that eventually resulted in township officials bringing their case to state authorities.

In the end, it was determined that houses in areas that were badly flooded must be inspected before power can be restored.

On Monday, according to township officials, 462 homes were inspected, out of which 105 were determined to be unsafe.

For homes determined to be unsafe, the electrical meters are pulled and inspectors move to the next house. Once an area of the electrical grid is cleared – with safe homes inspected and unsafe homes' power cut – the entire area will be re-energized at once, the township said in an updated issued Monday night.

For those whose homes are determined to be unsafe, electrical work must be completed, an additional inspection must be performed, and JCP&L must reinstall an electrical meter before power can be restored.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis has been holding frequent meetings with local homeowners at Angela Hibbard Park to update them on the situation.

The inspections will continue Tuesday, officials said.

Meanwhile, residents in the township's barrier island neighborhoods were being told not to consume water or flush toilets during the time they are allowed back in their homes.

"You may have water in your lines but it is not acceptable to consume it until testing is complete," the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement Monday. "You are advised by most water companies that the water is NOT safe to consume."

As for the toilet-flushing ban: "The discharge from such activities will strain already disabled or broken systems, and may cause environmental damage and backup of sewage in homes," the DEP's statement said.