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LAW OFFICES OF GEOFFREY D. MUELLER, LLC

366 Kinderkamack Road
Westwood, New Jersey 07675
610 East Palisade Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632
2 William Street - Suite 304
White Plains, New York 10601
Phone: (201) 569-2533 Fax: (201) 569-2554

Hurricane Sandy - Various Aid & Information Links (Part 2)

To those who have been affected by the storm and its aftermath, please accept our sincere condolences and best wishes. If there is anything we might be able to do in order to help you and yours get through these times, please do not hesitate to contact us. We hope the following information proves useful.

http://www.lbieoc.org/
Long Beach Island Joint Emergency Operations Center for Hurricane Sandy

Limited Re-entry Instructions

November 4, 2012, 3:20 p.m.

Long Beach Island will be open to residents only, on Monday, November 5, 2012 from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Entry will take place from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. No one will be permitted to enter after 12:00 noon.

Due to unsafe conditions, there will be no access for residences of Holgate and North Beach.

Residents must show their re-entry placard, driver’s license showing an LBI address or proof of residence (i.e., tax bill, deed, etc.).

Re-entry Instructions

(Revised 11/4/12 4:33 p.m.)

New Jersey Natural Gas

Hurricane Sandy Response Update

November 3, 2012, 3 p.m.

(WALL) -- In the 72 hours since New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) shut off natural gas service to the hurricane-damaged areas of Long Beach Island, and Bay Head to Seaside Park, NJNG has begun its on-the-ground assessment of the damage to the system and restoration requirements.

NJNG also has made an initial, official request to FEMA for up to 5,100 electric space heaters.  Until this request is approved, the Red Cross advises that nearby heated shelters with hot meals and cots are available at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, and Pine Belt Arena in Toms River.

Damage Assessment

The current damage assessment is the first step in a sequential process to restore service.  Each section of the pipeline must be rigorously evaluated to check for all damage, including breaks and water intrusion.   Once this assessment is completed, a determination can be made as to whether some sections of the pipeline can be salvaged.  Damaged sections will need to be rebuilt.

Restoration Plan

Developing a restoration plan is the next step in the process, and it can only be reliably undertaken once the full extent of the condition of the system is known.

As soon as the plan is finalized, NJNG will share with customers how the restoration process will unfold.  Work will be undertaken in stages, starting closest to the point of supply and then working outward.  Some areas will be completed before others.  It is important to note that even at that point, a precise schedule will be impossible to provide, because the speed of the work will depend on the conditions encountered block by block, and house by house.

Individual Service

All customers who have had service interrupted—both within and outside the shut-off areas-- should be advised that when their area does have natural gas service, the following conditions must be met before service can be restored: first, their home must be habitable and they must have returned to it; second, their home must have electricity; and third, any furnaces, boilers or appliances exposed to flooding damage must be serviced and determined, by qualified technicians, to be safe for use.

Communication

NJNG is committed to keeping our affected customers informed at every step of this process.  We will be mailing an update to affected customers by November 9.  Customers can also obtain up-to-date information on our web site, njng.com, on Facebook, and through the media.

We know how frustrating this process is.  It is a long, exacting process that must be done safely and correctly at every step of the way.  It is why we worked so hard to try and save service to all our customers before making the decision to shut down the system.  We will not rest until service is restored to all of our customers.

For reference, listed below are some of the frequently asked questions we are receiving from all our customers—both within and outside of our shut-off areas.

My natural gas service was interrupted during the storm, how do I get service restored?
If your meter has been turned off by an NJNG technician or your service was interrupted during the storm, and you are now ready for service to be restored, please call us at 800-221-0051. A service technician will be dispatched to your home or business to reconnect service. Do not try to turn it back on. Only a licensed service technician may perform this task.
• In order to restore natural gas service, our technicians require safe and clear access to your home, as well as electricity. Please be sure that your equipment is clear of any standing water. This will help to ensure the safety of you and our employees.
• If your natural gas meter was under water, see the response to the following question.


What should I do if my natural gas meter was under water?
Please contact NJNG at 800-221-0051 to schedule an appointment so that we can change the regulator and the meter at no cost to you.

What should I do if my natural gas appliances were under water?
If your home or business was flooded and the natural gas appliances were under water, do not attempt to operate the appliances. Please contact a qualified plumber or appliance service contractor, for a safety inspection to ensure that appliances and controls were not damaged.