Crime & Safety

Hurricane Sandy: Everything You Need to Know in Ridgewood/Glen Rock

Here's the list of critical information, contacts you need to make it through the storm.

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This article contains an evolving list of websites, phone numbers and closure, cancellation and evacuation updates for the communities of Ridgewood and Glen Rock.

If you're a Facebook or Twitter user, I'd recommend following/liking the social media links provided below for the most timely updates.

The best and simplest way to stay informed is to sign up for your town's respective e-mail alerts. In Ridgewood, click on this link and fill out the information. It should only take a minute or two.

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Glen Rock residents should unquestionably sign up at this link to receive the e-mails.

Signing up for Nixle – which sends text messages of alerts in your town directly to your smart phone – is also highly recommended. New Jersey residents can register to receive messages by sending a text message with their zip code to 888777 (data rates may apply depending on your plan).

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Those resources should cover the basics, but we've also listed important contact numbers for local officials, Public Service and e-mail addresses. 

And of course, you should make sure to sign up for our breaking news and daily e-mail alerts here on Ridgewood-Glen Rock Patch to stay up on the latest developments.

During the storm, I'll be out as often as possible assessing the situation (when it's safe), taking pictures and reporting via Facebook and Twitter. But I won't be able to get to everything, so I'm asking each of you to please help me out when you can and let me know what's going on in your neighborhood. Everyone was incredible in helping get the word out to me last year during Irene so that I could get the word out to the rest of the community. So please don't hesitate to send me photos, videos, notices that trees or power lines are down or roads are closed.

Help me stay informed in what's going on in your neighborhood by e-mailing me at james.kleimann@patch.com or calling me at 201-364-3232.


Weather/Utilities

National Weather Service - www.weather.gov

The Weather Channel – www.weather.com

PSE&G – www.pseg.com

PSE&G Outage Map – www.pseg.com

Water Levels for the Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus Brook - National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. (If the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook near Maple Ave. reaches 3.0 feet, water will have penetrated homes in Ridgewood. If the Saddle River at Ridgewood gauge gets above 6 feet, flooding will also result in Ridgewood).

Municipal/County

Village of Ridgewood – www.ridgewood.net

Ridgewood OEM – oem.ridgewoodnj.net

Borough of Glen Rock – www.glenrocknj.net

Ridgewood Police Department – www.rpd.ridgewoodnj.net/

Ridgewood Fire Department – www.rfd.ridgewoodnj.net/

Glen Rock Fire Department – http://www.glenrockfd.org/

Glen Rock Ambulance Corps. – https://www.grvac.org/  

Bergen County OEM – www.bcoem.org/

Media/Public Access TV

Ridgewood Patch – www.ridgewood.patch.com

Cablevision Channel 77/FiOS Channel 34 in Ridgewood

Cablevision Channel 77/FiOS Channel 32 in Glen Rock

Medical Facilities

Valley Hospital – www.valleyhealth.com/

Hackensack University Medical Center – www.hackensackumc.org/

Bergen Regional Medical Center - www.bergenregional.com

Schools

Ridgewood Public Schools – www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/

Glen Rock Public Schools – www.glenrocknj.org/

Facebook

Twitter

Phone numbers

  • Borough of Glen Rock – (201) 670-3956
  • Village of Ridgewood – (201) 670-5500
  • Glen Rock PD – (201) 652-3800
  • Glen Rock FD – (201) 670-3987
  • Ridgewood FD – (201) 444-4225
  • Ridgewood PD – (201) 670-3900
  • PSE&G – (1-800) 436-7734
  • Verizon – (1-800) 837-4966 
  • Cablevision – (973) 279-6660 

E-mail

Closures, Cancellations and Accommodations

  • Ridgewood and Glen Rock Public Schools are closed both Monday and Tuesday
  • Glen Rock has cancelled trash, recycling, leaf pickups on Monday and Tuesday
  • Ridgewood has cancelled trash, recycling, leaf pickups Monday-Wednesday
  • Glen Rock Borough Hall and the library will be closed Monday and Tuesday
  • Ridgewood Village Hall and its public library are open on Monday; Tuesday's status has not been determined as of late Sunday night
  • The nearest shelter for evacuated village and borough residents is Bergen Community College
  • Glen Rock residents can house vehicles at all school and borough parking lots through Tuesday at midnight
  • Ridgewood residents can park their cars at the Hudson, Walnut and Cottage St. lots
  • Calls to 911 should only be for life-threatening emergencies
  • Goosey Night and Halloween is still on in Ridgewood as of Sunday night
  • Glen Rock placed an 8 p.m. curfew on Goosey Night for those under age 18. Parents are strongly encouraged to enforce the same on Wednesday night

Basic info in both towns

  • Ridgewood is asking residents not to place leaf piles in the streets until the storm is over, likely to be Wednesday.
  • Branches cannot be placed out on the street
  • Storm drains should be cleared entirely
  • Stock up on 72 hours worth of food and water
  • Secure outdoor furniture or bring it inside
  • Children should not trick-or-treat alone
  • Children under 18 cannot be out past 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 in Glen Rock
  • Both towns are discouraging children from trick-or-treating due to luring reports and predicted inclement weather
  • Residents in low-lying areas should have a backup plan in the event evacuations are necessary
  • Officials are asking residents to check on the welfare of neighboring seniors
  • Be ready for power outages: stock up on batteries and flashlights, charge cell phones, and gas up vehicles

How to Prepare

Officials are recommending that homeowners stock up on emergency supplies such as food, water and medication for family pets for at least 72 hours. 

"Remember food safety," an email blast to residents warned. "Power outages and flooding may happen as a result of a tropical storm or hurricane, so have a plan for keeping food safe. Have a cooler on hand to keep food cold, and group food together in the freezer so it stays cold longer."

Even Gov. Christie called on New Jersey residents to take prophylactic steps ahead of the storm: "Now, ahead of any potential impact of Sandy, is the time for families to ensure they are prepared and are tuned in for the latest path of the storm for our coast. I encourage all of our families to stay informed, get ready, and reach out to those you know who may be isolated, or in need of extra assistance during adverse conditions."

Some suggestions issued by The American Red Cross Friday include: 

  • A portable kit, stored in a sturdy, easy to carry, water resistant container should have enough supplies for three days. Check your kit and replace perishable stock every six months.

Whether you purchase a kit or choose to build your own, your three-day kit should include:

  • Water: one gallon per person, per day.
  • Food: nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items such as tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, and canned fruit.
  • Don't forget to include a manual can opener.
  • A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
  • A first aid kit.
  • Prescription and nonprescription medication items. Include medical supplies like extra hearing aid batteries, syringes, etc.
  • Copies of important documents, including birth certificates, insurance policies and social security cards.
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
  • Extra cash. ATMs and credit cards won’t work if the power is out.
  • Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
  • One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
  • Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowls).

Know what to do if a hurricane watch is issued:

  • Listen to weather updates from your battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.
  • Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools, anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
  • Close all windows and doors. Cover windows with storm shutters or plywood.
  • If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor to protect it from flooding.
  • Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.
  • Check your disaster supplies kit to make sure items have not expired.

Know what to do if a hurricane warning is issued:

  • Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
  • If in a manufactured home, check tie-downs and evacuate as told by local authorities.
  • Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve.
  • If you are not advised to evacuate, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
  • Do not use open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.
  • If power is lost, turn off appliances to reduce damage from a power surge when electricity is rest

Additional preparedness tools, resources and useful links, can be found here.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor James Kleimann at James.Kleimann@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox every morning, sign up for our daily newsletter.

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