Storm Update: Snow Compounds Power Problems

Wednesday night's Nor'easter dumped heavy, wet snow on an already storm-damaged power infrastructure, complicating efforts to restore electricty to thousands already without power and cutting power to at least 1,000 more, authorities said Thursday.

About 4,200 residents are without power in town, as of about noon Thursday, according to the township Office of Emergency management.

About 1,200 out-of-state utility line workers are due to arrive today to help restore power. Jersey Central Power & Light continues to stress that everyone in town will have power by Friday, a release from the OEM says.

OEM representatives said they have been in "constant contact'' with the JCP&L municipal representative about the power situation in town, but that they doubt the voracity of the representative's statements.

"Not only are we not receiving updated, factual, and reliable informationm but we also believe that our municipal representative is not getting the appropriate information from the company to pass on to us," the release says.

The emergency distribution site set up at the Circle Factory Outlets at Atlantic Avenue and Route 35 is open Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is not a drop-off site, however. Donations can be taken to Thompson Park in Middletown, the release says.