(TRENTON) – With hundreds of thousands of New Jersey households – including numerous constituents – still without power after Superstorm Sandy, Senator Shirley K. Turner today said it is past time to require power companies to file comprehensive emergency response plans with state officials to ensure the timely restoration of power.
Turner drafted the legislation in 2011 after Tropical Storm Irene left countless homes dark for days, exposing the weakness that utility companies were not equipped to handle extensive outages in the aftermath of such a destructive storm.
“For too many of our residents, their experiences after Hurricane Sandy is déjà vu,” said Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “If we had learned our lesson from last year, this year’s work to restore power would be organized and orderly with clear-cut deadlines and benchmarks, not another disjointed scramble. Ten days or more without power is too much to ask of our residents, especially senior citizens, disabled residents, and families with children. We need sound emergency plans in place to prevent these extensive outages in the future.”
