To Township of Green Brook Residents: As everyone knows, the Township has been hit with two major storm events within a span of 11 days. Given this, we need to share what we have been doing and what we plan to do moving forward. It is important for everyone to understand the Township's priorities are always safety first and that has been and will continue to be our focus over this difficult period of time. With the tree debris storm of Thursday, July 3rd, our goal was to get power restored and get the roads passable as quickly as possible. Working with the utilities, our DPW worked many hours of overtime to accomplish this. Our attention then turned to the massive clean-up effort to remove all of the tree debris from our roadways. This past week DPW worked overtime hours during the week and on Saturday and Sunday in addition to outside contractors that have and will continue to assist. Under normal circumstances, this cleanup was likely to take over a month for our small department to get all the way through the Township and get all of the tree debris off of the roadways. Just as DPW had begun to make some progress, the Township was hit with a flash flood event on Monday, July 14th causing widespread flooding, which included many roads closed, water rescues and truly heroic acts by our emergency services personnel. Many people (including township staff themselves) lost personal property, were flooded in their homes and are now dealing with the aftermath of another devastating flood event. We give this context today to remind the great residents of this community that we will prevail; it is just going to take some time. The tree debris from the storm on the 3rd will get picked up. The debris from brook/stream flooding from Monday will also get picked up. We are going to ask for patience and understanding for the hardworking employees who have been doing their absolute best to keep everyone safe and to get our town back into shape. This double storm clean-up is a huge undertaking and the Township is doing what we can to ask for assistance, hire contractors...etc. We also ask you to consider kindness - many in the Township are upset about personal circumstances (tree removal, flood damage) and the staff, DPW and emergency services personnel are working continuously to get the Township back in order. Sometimes circumstances like this can bring out negativity, but also it can be an opportunity for compassion and positivity. The municipal building will be closed to the public today (7/16) and will be reopening tomorrow 7/17. Staff is continuing to check messages and help in any way that we can. The Township is continuing to assess damage to areas affected and the cleanups for both tree and flood debris are on a rolling basis. Don’t delay putting your debris to the curb. The Township is still awaiting word on disaster relief that would allow for outside funds for the debris disposal for those affected by flood damage. At this time, regardless of the outside funds, the Township is committed to handling debris removal for brook/stream induced damage only. Those that have brook/stream induced flood damage may begin placing the debris curbside (not in the shoulder or roadway). Please keep in mind that any Township collection would be limited to storm related debris from flood zones only. Branch debris from the prior emergency can also be re-piled, but please do not mingle tree debris and storm debris. Please understand that the tree debris removal is now at a lower priority level than the flood debris, but we will be getting to it as soon possible. ALSO - the Dog Park and Arthur Lewis Park are closed until further notice due to storm damage. Stay tuned to this page for updates on that front. Thank you!
To Township of Green Brook Residents:
As everyone knows, the Township has been hit with two major storm events within a span of 11 days. Given this, we need to share what we have been doing and what we plan to do moving forward.
It is important for everyone to understand the Township's priorities are always safety first and that has been and will continue to be our focus over this difficult period of time. With the tree debris storm of Thursday, July 3rd, our goal was to get power restored and get the roads passable as quickly as possible. Working with the utilities, our DPW worked many hours of overtime to accomplish this. Our attention then turned to the massive clean-up effort to remove all of the tree debris from our roadways. This past week DPW worked overtime hours during the week and on Saturday and Sunday in addition to outside contractors that have and will continue to assist. Under normal circumstances, this cleanup was likely to take over a month for our small department to get all the way through the Township and get all of the tree debris off of the roadways.
Just as DPW had begun to make some progress, the Township was hit with a flash flood event on Monday, July 14th causing widespread flooding, which included many roads closed, water rescues and truly heroic acts by our emergency services personnel. Many people (including township staff themselves) lost personal property, were flooded in their homes and are now dealing with the aftermath of another devastating flood event.
We give this context today to remind the great residents of this community that we will prevail; it is just going to take some time. The tree debris from the storm on the 3rd will get picked up. The debris from brook/stream flooding from Monday will also get picked up. We are going to ask for patience and understanding for the hardworking employees who have been doing their absolute best to keep everyone safe and to get our town back into shape. This double storm clean-up is a huge undertaking and the Township is doing what we can to ask for assistance, hire contractors...etc. We also ask you to consider kindness - many in the Township are upset about personal circumstances (tree removal, flood damage) and the staff, DPW and emergency services personnel are working continuously to get the Township back in order. Sometimes circumstances like this can bring out negativity, but also it can be an opportunity for compassion and positivity.
The municipal building will be closed to the public today (7/16) and will be reopening tomorrow 7/17. Staff is continuing to check messages and help in any way that we can.
The Township is continuing to assess damage to areas affected and the cleanups for both tree and flood debris are on a rolling basis. Don’t delay putting your debris to the curb. The Township is still awaiting word on disaster relief that would allow for outside funds for the debris disposal for those affected by flood damage. At this time, regardless of the outside funds, the Township is committed to handling debris removal for brook/stream induced damage only. Those that have brook/stream induced flood damage may begin placing the debris curbside (not in the shoulder or roadway). Please keep in mind that any Township collection would be limited to storm related debris from flood zones only.
Branch debris from the prior emergency can also be re-piled, but please do not mingle tree debris and storm debris. Please understand that the tree debris removal is now at a lower priority level than the flood debris, but we will be getting to it as soon possible.
ALSO - the Dog Park and Arthur Lewis Park are closed until further notice due to storm damage. Stay tuned to this page for updates on that front.
Thank you!
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