Community Corner

UPDATE: Outage Numbers Climbing in Red Bank and Shrewsbury

Nearly 2,500 residents are without power in Red Bank and Shrewsbury.

Update: The number of residents without power in Red Bank is now 2,500 JCP&L estimates. In Shrewsbury, nearly 1,000 residents are without power.

Jersey Central Power and Light is reporting that nearly 2,500 residents in Red Bank and Shrewsbury are currently without power and an estimated 85,000 homes are without power throughout Monmouth County.

The numbers, however, are an estimate and could likely be higher depending on delays in JCP&L's reporting system.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Throughout both towns, Hurricane Sandy's heavy winds have downed trees and power lines as emergency personnel work to prevent injury by setting up detours and placing cones at dangerous intersections.

In Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna has signed an emergency declaration requiring borough business to close by 5 p.m., though much of the downtown was abandoned - some stores using plywood to cover their storefront windows in anticipation of the storm - late Monday morning. The emergency declaration is in effect through Tuesday as the area braces for Hurricane Sandy to show its full force later this evening.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

All non-emergency travel throughout Red Bank and Shrewsbury is to be avoided and many area neighborhoods have been made near-impassable due to downed trees and limbs.

Though flooding in Red Bank and Shrewsbury has been limited thus far, tonight's full moon tide coincides with Sandy's expected arrival at around 8 p.m. Sustained winds of 30 miles per hour and gusts of more than 75 mph are expected.


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