Montville Storm Triggers 65 Emergency Calls In 45 Minutes; Crews Still Working

MONTVILLE, NJ — A fast-moving storm that swept through Montville on Saturday prompted a surge of nearly 65 emergency calls within a 45-minute window, triggering a coordinated response from police, fire, public works and utility crews that officials say helped restore normalcy to the community within hours.

The Montville Police Department's dispatch center managed the rapid influx of calls quickly and efficiently, with officers clearing scenes and immediately requesting new assignments as calls continued stacking up, according to a statement from the department.

Department of Public Works crews responded without hesitation to clear roads blocked by fallen trees, branches and debris, while JCP&L arrived within the first hour to assess power outages, damaged utility poles and downed lines.

Local fire departments responded to multiple calls, including a structure fire caused by a downed power line.

"Without the dedication of these men and women, many of us would still be without power, waiting for an officer to take a report, or unable to travel roads blocked by storm debris," the police department said in a statement.

As of Monday, DPW and JCP&L crews were still working to resolve storm-related issues nearly 48 hours after the storm, authorities said.

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