Storm-tossed Dingman residents resort to shelters

BY ERIKA NORTON
DINGMAN — Downed trees and powerlines continued to plague roadways in Dingman Township and Milford Borough on Tuesday, with crews racing to restore power before another powerful storm hits the area.
As of Tuesday night, Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) was reporting that in Dingman Township, out of 5,492 customers served, 5,489 customers are without power — 99.9 percent. MET's estimated time of restoration is still March 7 at 11 p.m., but another Nor’easter may bring up to 15 inches of additional snow on Wednesday.
At the height of the damage, Pike County Power & Light says they had 3,000 customers without power. Now power for over 2,100 has been restored, leaving about 900 to go.
These power outages have driven many to the number of shelters in the area.
Longtime Milford resident and famous children’s book author Morgan Sanders has been staying at the shelter at the Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Department on Log Tavern Road with her two cats, Olivia and Gypsy, since Saturday night. She lost power in the middle of the night at her Gold Key Estates home.
“When I heard about how long it was going to be, I knew that my house was going to get so cold and I have two cats, so I could keep myself warm but I couldn’t keep my cats warm,” Sanders said.
And with the impending storm, she said she’s likely to be there for awhile longer.
The shelterThe shelter is being run through a combination of the Dingman fire department and the American Red Cross. Dave Skutnik of the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania said that 18 people spent the night at the shelter on Monday night, but upwards of 60 people had been in and out throughout the day Tuesday between breakfast and lunch.
Many stop in to get a hot meal, take a shower, pick up some snacks and bottled water, he said. There is also a spigot to get water for cooking and toilets, for those who have a well and no water.
With the next storm coming, Skutnik said they are expecting more people to the shelter in the coming days.
“We’re all gearing up for whatever is coming our way,” he said.
At around noon, there were about 35 people, kids included, at the shelter. The Salvation Army had just been in to drop off lunch, which included salad, soup, coffee, tea and rolls.
While Sanders said she is worried about her cats and her house — whether her pipes have froze or her basement is flooded — she seemed to be remaining optimistic.
“A place to sleep and free food all day — can’t beat that,” she said.