Power restoration and storm cleanup are continuing across Morris County, including Rockaway, after severe storms tore through the region over the July Fourth holiday weekend.
More than 20,000 Jersey Central Power & Light customers in Morris County remained without power as of Monday, July 6, 2026, and roadway cleanup is ongoing in areas where utility crews are still working. Emergency crews have responded to thousands of storm-related incidents since Friday evening, including downed trees and power lines, road blockages, structure damage, fires and medical emergencies. On the night of the July 3 storm, the Morris County Communications Center handled more than 4,000 calls between 7:30 p.m. and midnight, compared with 120 calls during the same window the previous Friday.
Governor Mikie Sherrill visited the Morris County 9-1-1 Center and Emergency Operations Center, then toured Jersey Central Power & Light’s staging site in the county to thank utility crews and discuss restoration. “I know many communities were hit hard, and we’re committed to helping them recover,” Sherrill said.
Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw credited the around-the-clock work of dispatchers, police, fire, EMS, public works and utility crews. “We appreciate the patience of our residents as we work to finish the cleanup from this storm,” Shaw said.
The Morris County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with municipalities and utility partners, including help for residents affected by outages and heat. Officials remind residents to drive carefully, avoid downed power lines and never drive through flooded roadways. Report outages directly to Jersey Central Power & Light, since outage reports help prioritize restoration. Power restoration is expected to take several days, with priority given to life safety, critical infrastructure and medically vulnerable residents.
