UPDATE: Thousands Without Power Throughout Toms River

9 a.m. Update: The Ocean County Office of Emergency Management urges residents to stay at home and remain sheltered until damage assessments can be completed.

7 a.m. Update:

Crews from the Recreation Department, Public Works and Shade Tree Commission worked overnight to address fallen trees throughout the township.

JCP&L is currently reporting 14,000 customers are without power in Toms River.

Sunday, Aug. 28, 12:45 a.m. Update:

Much of Toms River continues to experience a major power outage, Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said.

JCP&L is currently reporting that 7,019 customers are without power. The outage is from County Road 571 down to James Street and Hooper Avenue to Route 9, Mastronardy said.

Wires and trees are still down and minor flooding persists but it has calmed down in the last hour, Mastronardy said.

Mastronardy was heading over to the waterfront to check the tides. Up until now, Toms River has not had an issue with the beaches but 7:20 a.m. is the next high tide, he said.

Saturday, Aug. 27, 11:02 p.m. Update:

Toms River is experiencing major power outages throughout the central area of town, Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said.

JCP&L is reporting at least 7,017 customers are without power, which is the police department’s top concern, Mastronardy said.

“My concern is not the flooding. It’s the power outages,” he said.

Rain is falling hard in Toms River and Mastronardy is asking residents to stay at home. Wires and trees are down and there is flooding throughout the town.

“Spot flooding is all over town. There’s just too much rain,” he said.

There was power interruption at the police department and they are currently working off of an emergency generator, Mastronardy said.

Paul Daley of the Toms River Office of Emergency Management asked residents not to tie up the emergency lines.

“We have a bunch of problems. Conditions are deteriorating rapidly,” he said. “Stay in one place. Do not leave the house.”

The beaches are quiet and are not creating too many problems, he said.

If the winds continue to pick up, they may have to pull emergency services off of the road, he said.