Sussex County Sandy update

SUSSEX COUNTY — According to JCP&L's website, over 27,000 people in Sussex County are still without power as of Friday evening.

Sussex Bank locations offering assistance

Sussex Bank is offering local residents to come and use its facilities in Franklin, Newton, Port Jervis, Sparta, Augusta, Vernon, and Warwick to charge phones/electronics, warm up or use the bathroom until the power has been restored in Sussex County.

Road closures

The following roads are closed or partially open in Vernon, Wantage and Lafayette. For a complete list of road closings in Sussex County visit www.sussex.nj.us.

A single lane is open from Harborside Drive to Camp Sussex in Vernon.

Rt. 94 to Church Street in Vernon is closed due to a washout.

Rt. 644 from the railroad crossing to Vernon-Glenwood Rd./Rt. 517 in Vernon is closed.

Crigger Road to File Road in Wantage is closed.

Woodland Terrace to Grove Drive in Vernon is closed.

Van Sickle Road to Lafayette Meadows Road in Lafayette is closed.

Food Dept. health tips

Without power, a full upright or chest freezer will keep everything frozen for about two days. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about one day. If power will be coming back on fairly soon, you can make the food last longer by keeping the door shut as much as possible. If power will be off for an extended period, if possible, take food to friends’ freezers.

Without power, the refrigerator section will keep food cool for 4-6 hours depending on the kitchen temperature. A full, well-functioning freezer unit should keep food frozen for two days. A half-full freezer unit should keep things frozen for about one day. Discard perishable foods like eggs, meat, fish, or milk that has been above 41 degrees for more than four to six hours.

About thawed food

Food still containing ice crystals or that feels refrigerator-cold can be refrozen. Discard any thawed food that has risen to room temperature and remained there for two hours or more. Immediately discard any food with a strange color or odor. Finally, the best advice is "if in doubt, throw it out."

For more information call the Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services at 973-579-0370 or visit www.sussex.nj.us/health. You can also visit the New Jersey Department of Health website at www.nj.gov/health.