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In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the city is picking up the pieces and looking for volunteers to help with displaced residents, recreation programs and more.

City resident Joe Grillo is collecting names of volunteers with CDL licenses; medical personnel or people with medical knowledge; and anyone with a social service background. All other volunteers are welcome, as well.

City officials are working with community organizations, faith-based groups, the Ministerial Alliance and social organizations throughout the city to prepare for long-term outages.

“We’re preparing ourselves for food programs, shelter, heating and recreational activities for our kids because the schools are going to remain closed as long as there is no electricity,” Johnson said.

The city hopes recreational programs for the children will enable parents to shop for food or gasoline, he said.

They’re also hoping to find a way to provide those in need with breakfast, lunch and dinner, all before the 7 p.m. curfew each day. City officials met with the Ministerial Alliance today to put a plan in place. Johnson anticipated a program would be solidified within the next day or so.

The 7 p.m. curfew is in effect until further notice.

“I know people have cabin fever, but if you’re out on the street [after 7] you will be stopped and picked up and you face fines and arrests,” Johnson said.

City workers continue to remove trees and downed power lines to pave the way for restoration of power.

“The damage here is extensive at the beach front and with trees and power lines, but when you start seeing towns that no longer exist, our thoughts go out to them but we’re going to continue to provide the services we have here,” he said.

Much of the city is without electric power, but still has gas and water, Johnson confirmed. Residents on Ridge Avenue and Memorial Drive have told the Asbury Park Sun their power was turned back on around 2 p.m. today. According to FirstEnergy, 5,918 are still without power in Asbury.

“The city is meeting every day and we’re coordinating to restore city services to as normal as possible,” Johnson said. “Trash, DPW, recycling, street sweeping, as well as public safety.”

Thurgood Marshall Elementary School continues to be the shelter reception area, where those needing shelter can be processed before being transported to Monmouth County shelters, Johnson said.

The shelter at Monmouth University is currently full, Johnson said, but the city is working with the county to open additional sites, especially for those who have lost their homes in hard-hit areas like the Bayshore region and barrier island.

“As we get to four, five or 10 days without power, it’s getting kind of cold and we have seniors with no heat,” Johnson said. “We have seniors with medications that need to be refrigerated, so we’re looking at those special needs as well.”

The state’s official estimate for power to come back in some areas is seven to 10 days, although parts of Eatontown and Red Bank have reportedly had power restored.

A majority of the senior citizens living in senior buildings in town have evacuated, Johnson said, although some didn’t want to leave. Those who stayed now have access to generator power and meals, he said, although they don’t have heat.

Unlike some municipalities who have experienced looting since the storm, which took place overnight on Monday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Oct. 30, Asbury Park has been free of such crimes, aside from one or two incidents, Johnson said, adding that the curfew has helped curtail criminal activity. Also the Ministerial Alliance has assisted the city with watches in the street.

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