Ok, what if....Springfield residents loose power. No internet, limited cell phone...an evacuation order is issued. How would someone, like myself, for example, know to evacuate?

Hi Heather. Do you have the Patch App? It's free and you'll be able to access information there if you lose power as long as your phone is charged.

Been hearing a lot of advisories about "low-lying areas." How do we determine if ours is one of them?

If you live in a flood zone or if you live near any rivers or lakes that are likely to flood from the heavy rains.

Could Westfield including Linden Avenue around Wilson School Flood?

Matt - It is unlikely for that area of Westfield to flood due to the high elevation of that neighborhood. Most flooding has been street flooding on Lamberts Mill and basement flooding. That said, due to the nature of the storm, I would not rule anything out, but it is highly unlikely.

Wind Damage??? Likely???

Wind damage would be the most likely damage to impact Westfield based on past storms over the last two years, which brought down tree limbs on multiple occasions and several whole trees. I know a tree fell in that area, within the last year. Where in town do you live?

Would you recommend staying away from windows tomorrow morning!

Matt - I would recommend that.

Bill - Let me see if I can find out anything.

John Are you staying up tonight to give us updates???

The live coverage of Hurricane Irene and how it affects Union County will continue to be updated through the night.

Matt - To reiterate Liz, we've got a great Patch team covering the hurricane and we'll be updating through the night.

To ask, how is it going in your neck of Westfield?

Lots of rain of course, but this storm has some serious gusts of wind. Going outside on Rahway Ave, every couple of minutes there are some serious wind gusts....will definitely have some downed trees/poles

Rusty Cut - if you have a chance, send over some photos on Sunday of what you're seeing down on Rahway.

In My neck of Westfield! I hear a Tree being cut down in the distance and currently a lull in precip on Linden Avenue!!! Worst of storm expected between 4:00 and 10:00 AM!!!

Power out on Belvidere ave...is whole town out?

My brother drove down late from Syracuse with a generator and is at Blue Star, trying to get into Scotch Plains. No way in over there...any idea if New Providence Road coming off Watching Res would do the trick to come in a different way?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24aCYhGuiGE

Power out kimball in wychwood.. tree down. Somewhee closeby at 120am very loud thump

What was that light show this morning about 330am by Martinez and South ave?

Power out since 2am o Shackamaxon

Power out on Stevens Ave. As of 6:30 a.m.

Power out on Baker Ave since 1am. PSEG says they had not heard.

Power out on st marks ave as of 630 am sunday

Good tracking map of Irene winds at http://nyti.ms/r1Gosb

Is power out in North Summit?

Power out on Harrison since early AM. Any comments from the power company??

Power out on Summit Ave. from about 1am.

no power on diamond hill ave in Berkeley Heights.

Thank you for the storm updates out of Westfield, Summit and Berkeley Heights. Pleases keep them coming and if you are in other communities please let us know what is going on.

Power out on old grove road in mountainside since at least 4am.

Still have power on butler parkway in summit

Power out Manitou Circle around 6:30 A.M.

Still have power here on Stanley Oval. So much rain, but not as much wind as we feared.

Anyone know if power is out near wilson school? I am away on vacation and can't get back to w'field.

Chris, there have been some reports on here about outages in that neighborhood.

Has anybody had power restored after going off?

Power out off Ashland Rd in Summit near Division since 4 AM or so.

Power still here on lower Ashland Road, Summit. afp1937new@aol.com

Looks like Summit hasn't been hit much according to PSE&G, which has a map of outages for our area posted at http://bit.ly/nOEdeI. Click the symbol next to the area you want, then click "Detail" link.

Ihave power on farley... And street is starting to flood
But smell oil .... What the heck is that?

PSEG message says our power will be restored "by Sunday Sept 4."

I live near the Park Ave. overpass in Scotch Plains. The entrance to the ramp looks completely flooded, and I can see a car partially submerged right where you enter the ramp. My street is underwater, too.

Power is out near Wilson School, specifically Jefferson Ave. Large tree down on Jefferson Ave early this morning, but it's cleared up now and didn't hit any houses or cars. Does anyone know if this is the end of the storm, or are we expected to get more rain? Basement is flooding higher and higher as I type..

Front Street is completely flooded.

Power off on Woodfern Rd, Summit since 9pm last night.

Power out Glendora and evergreen blvd scotch plains since 4 Am- what's the word fr power co?

Power off scotchplains evergreen blvd and greenside-
What's the word from

Power out on Settlers Lane as of 6 a.m. Sunday.

power is on but tree is down on lamberts mill across from the golf course

cARLETON ROAD WAS A RIVER...NOW A LAKE GOING DOWN SLOWLY.

I took some incredible video of Route 22 flooding near the Park Avenue interchange. I also helped push a Hummer out of the knee-deep water flooding the eastbound side. What a morning!

Matt M. can you upload the video to the story? If not, can you upload to YouTube and send the link over and we can post it.

Adelaide - do you have photos of Carleton that you can send me? Johnc@patch.com

No power still on Ternay Ave in Scotch Plains. Any word on the actual storm? Has it completely passed or is this just a nice break. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

is riverside drive in cranford still completely flooded? does anyone have an idea when residents are allowed to return?

Summit: Morris near Huntley Tavern lost power 1am, still out. Dale Dr, still out. Springfield near Essex, did not lose power.

Mark - Riverside Drive is under 8 feet of water according to a report that I just got. There is flooding on Kenilworth Blvd as well. Nomo baseball fields under 3-4 feet of water. No word on when you can return. Police have not returned the message I left.

John, I uploaded one and am uploading another one right now.

I live in southwyck in sp. Am out of state now. Anyone know if flooding or power out there?

There is a very large tree leaning far into the road on Forest Road in Scotch Plains (near the S-P library). It has already buckled the sidewalk.

Please stay off Forest Road between Bartle Ave and Westfield Ave!

WOW, thanks for the videoss Matt. I live on Mountainview Avenue and am on vacation right now - I'm afraid to see what my house looks like. I wish i had flood insurance :(

Is Morris Ave in Summit OK? Any reports of floods, downed trees or road closures?

I talked to the Rescue Squad in Summit this morning and they said there were some downed trees on Morris Avenue. They did not say where on the street though.

Summit Morris Ave-closed btw Orchard and John/North. Tree limb has live wires.

Mark - Here is a You Tube video of the apartments on Riverside Drive in Cranford.

Link for YouTube and posting to the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssmt_Krg_1w&feature=share

Does any one have any information on Orange Ave and Manor? Would like to know if there is extensive flooding on these streets.

Just an update on Scotch Plains and the videos I posted earlier of Park Ave./Route 22: the water has receded (and the car was towed), but I still saw some water at the 22 East exit onto Park Ave. I checked again and can see traffic moving on 22 East (not sure about West), so it must be passable now.

Thanks for all your updates, Matt! Truly a great help to our neighbors.

Sorry if this is a repost: I’m out of town for the weekend. Does anyone know if the power is on or off at Springfield Park Place condos [955 South Springfield Ave.]. JCPL customer – so I can’t seem to find out any specifics online.

5 minutes after I wrote that Stanley Oval had power, our power went out and has stayed out.

Power has been out on the North side near Mountain Avenue since 1 PM Sunday morning. It just came on again around 3PM. Lots of basement flooding, major flooding along the river in Cranford. MSNBC has done a great job covering the storm, pretty factual. Try to stay off the roads until tomorrow. Lots of downed trees and power lines on the North side including Mountainside up to RT.22.

I was out of town this wknd and just saw that bayberry gardens which is the apt complex on the scotch plains/clark border was flooded. Before I head back, does anyone know if the flood has receded and are we able to get back in? Thanks.

Power back on old grove road mountainside as of 12:30 pm

Does anyone know if broad street in westfield is flooded and if there is power there

There have been trees down on Broad Street in parts and power outages are all around the community, hard to pinpoint to one spot.

Anybody know how Short Hills Club Village apartments in Springfield have fared? Pics?

Has anyone heard an update on when the power should be back on in Scotch Plains?

Tree branches just cut on Morris Ave/John,Summit. Next would be power co? SU East Townhouse community of 32 units still no power/no water.

does anyone know if there are any passable roads to get from fanwood to berkeley heights?

Does anyone know when power will be restored to Clark St Westfield? Out since about 1 AM

Anyone know the situation on Glenside Rd. through the reservation from Rt. 22 to Berkeley Heights?

Does anyone know if the lambertsmill village apartments in scotch plains are/were flooded at all

Does anyone know when the power will be restored in summit ? I'm on Orchard and the power has been out since 1am

I am looking for news on power restoration for Beverly Rd in Summit... Downed tree at bottom of hill by Oratory school. Much of the street is closed. Anyone have info I can pass on to family members still in the dark?

Summit-Morris Ave near Orchard just had power restored 9:30pm. Thx elec crew! YES power, NO water: half way there, still safe and ok.

Does anybody know if rt. 22 East from bridgewater to mountainside is passable?

Power on scotch plains evergreen blvd/ Glenside 6.30 am

Anyone know about north union ave in cranford? Is it open?

Anyone know about English Village in Cranford? Is it accessible?

Thank you all for participating in our live blog. We have started another one to discuss how people are coping today, continued power outages and business openings and closings. Check it out here: http://patch.com/A-l6tl

Anyone on Bradford Ave off Mountain. Trying to reach my elderly parents...they lost power around 8 last night but seemed to be fine. Unable to get through via land line or cell. Any update, trees, flooding, power etc would be greatly appreciated....Ty Ty Ty

Nancy what is their address? I'll walk over there. My email is pshagar at hotmail

Just walked almost all the way down Bradford toward Mountain. Several trees down but didn't see any that had hit homes. Power lines down between Alden and Dudley Court - will post a photo.

Nancy - our friends live next door to your parents and said they are okay.

Thank you...Ty.....I just spoke with my Dad....Westfield needs to do some tree control...the cost of clean up after all the storms as a result of the tree damage is really irresponsible! Easier said then done I know and as a tree and nature lover hard to imagine but before they take another life unnessarily the town and the home owners needs to address the safety of the people first!!

Glad I found this publication...we have Front Porch Forum here in Vermont and it really helps you feel connected to the community.Especially in difficult times such as this....peace be with you!
Thank you again!