Cleanup underway across New Jersey after powerful storm topples trees and knocks out power
Residents of the area said a tree crashing into power lines even sparked a brief fire.
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Cleanup efforts continued across New Jersey on Sunday after a fast-moving but powerful thunderstorm swept through the state overnight, bringing strong winds that downed trees, damaged property, and disrupted transportation.
Among the impacts, NJ Transit rail service was suspended between Morris Plains and Mount Arlington due to downed trees along the tracks around Mount Tabor. Residents of the area said a tree crashing into power lines even sparked a brief fire.
In River Edge, multiple large trees came down in one neighborhood. One tree crushed a fence, damaged gutters, and landed on top of a car, while just a few houses down, another blocked part of the roadway.
“All of a sudden the sky gets really dark, and then it starts thunderstorming,” said Leonard Sarmiento of River Edge. “It almost felt like a tornado. Everything was going crazy. There were a lot of strong winds. Then we heard a boom. One tree over there, then another tree, and we lost electricity five seconds later.”
For some, the scene was hard to believe when they first saw it.
“I got a text or call from my neighbors and my mom and dad, and I thought it was A.I. right away,” said Ethan, who had a tree come down in front of his house. “I was just like, what are we doing?”
As utility crews and public works teams worked throughout the day to clear debris and reopen roads, some said the storm's quick impact was unlike anything they had seen before.
“Not even Hurricane Sandy,” Ethan said. “I’ve never seen this. But thank God nothing hit our house and nobody got hurt.”
Officials continue to assess storm damage across the state as cleanup and restoration efforts move forward.
