Residents Scramble To Find Power and Internet Access

Summit and area residents have been scrambling all morning to find power and Internet access around the city.

With the trains not running and many roads still shut down, the Summit Free Public Library and cafes around the city have been inundated with residents seeking power and Internet access.

"We have been filled with people for the past few days, especially today," said Summit Free Public Library Reference Librarian Robin Carroll-Mann.

The library's open table and computer stands were  filled to capacity as of Noon, roughly around 75-100 people op laptops. On a "normal" Monday, Mann said, that number might be eight.

Mann said that some of the increase in the number of people using library services is due to power outages and closures in neighboring towns. She said that Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Madison and even Long Hill Township remained closed today. New Providence Memorial Library is open, but its Internet access is down.

Mann said that a rush on library services began on Saturday, when she tallied 1,785 items checked out of the library of which 707 were DVDs. By way of comparison, on August 20, 1,105 items were checked out of the library, of which were 295 DVDs.  

Summit Fire Chief Joseph Houck said Monday morning that the department tallied "well over 1,000 residents still without power.

The is open until 9 pm this evening.