Warming Centers to Open in Manchester and Lakehurst

With power outages remaining widespread on Thursday, officials in Manchester and Lakehurst are taking steps to help residents keep warm.

Manchester Township Elementary School on Colonial Drive will open its doors Thursday morning to give powerless residents an escape from their unheated homes. JCP&L reports that 63 percent of its customers in the township remain without power, a number that is slowly dropping.

"We're considering it a warming station," said Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski. "It's not a shelter. It's a place to get warm – there will be chargers for cell phones and coffee."

It was initially announced that the township's high school would host the center, but officials moved the location to the elementary school. Klimakowski said that the center does not have a definite closing time.

Members of the Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Company again will host an open house for borough residents from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at its headquarters on Proving Ground Road. Half of borough residents remain in the dark, according to JCP&L.

Warm showers, coffee, charging stations for small electronics and a limited amount of ice will be available, according to the department. Officials ask that interested residents RSVP at the department's Facebook page.