Governor Phil Murphy responded Thursday night to a deadly line of severe thunderstorms that tore through Central New Jersey, killing three people and leaving tens of thousands without power. The storm caused widespread damage in towns including Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook, and Dunellen. In a statement posted on X, Murphy urged residents to stay indoors and avoid downed trees, power lines, and burning transformers.
The Context
The storm struck just ahead of the July 4 holiday, disrupting celebrations and underscoring the vulnerability of infrastructure to increasingly intense weather events. With power outages affecting over 45,000 residents and emergency services stretched thin, the storm has renewed calls for investment in climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
What to Know
Three people were killed during the storm: one in North Plainfield and two in Plainfield. One victim, a woman from Middlesex County, died when a massive tree fell on her car during the storm, according to North Plainfield Mayor Lawrence La Ronde.
Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp declared a state of emergency, citing downed trees, power lines, and structural damage. In one case, a tree sliced through the roof of a home office where a resident would have been working had she not taken the day off.
I have been briefed on the severe thunderstorm and heavy winds that hit Central Jersey this evening and resulted in fatalities. The towns of Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook, and Dunellen sustained damage, among others.If you’re in the area, please stay inside and… https://t.co/P2tgYj17pW
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 4, 2025
At the storm’s peak, over 45,000 customers were without power across Middlesex, Union, and Somerset counties. NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line was suspended between Plainfield and Bound Brook due to fallen trees on the tracks.
Governor Murphy said the state is coordinating with local mayors and agencies, including New Jersey State Police (NJSP), ReadyNJ, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), and NJ Transit, to support recovery efforts. Cleanup crews are working to restore power and clear debris, but full recovery may take several days.
The National Weather Service had issued severe thunderstorm warnings for much of the region, and by Friday morning, over 11 million people remained under storm alerts. Officials say cleanup and power restoration could take several days.
What People Are Saying
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, in a statement on X: “I have been briefed on the severe thunderstorm and heavy winds that hit Central Jersey this evening and resulted in fatalities. The towns of Plainfield, North Plainfield, Bound Brook, and Dunellen sustained damage, among others.
“If you’re in the area, please stay inside and avoid any downed trees, power lines, or burning transformers.
“We are in close touch with local mayors and emergency response officials to provide support through @NJSP, @ReadyNJ, @NJBPU, @NewJerseyDOT, and @NJTRANSIT.
Middlesex County, New Jersey woman, Michelle Smith, to Eyewitness News: “I saw the tree on the car and I realized, the whole sidewalk had come up. It was very chaotic a lot of people were trying to look inside the car, the car lights were still on and after some time we realized with the conditions of the storm and the size of that tree that most likely the person had been deceased.”
Plainfield, New Jersey Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, in a statement posted on Facebook: “The devastating storm that struck our city has left deep scars, widespread damage, and thousands still without power. In light of this tragedy, we cannot, in good conscience, proceed with our Fourth of July parade, concert, or fireworks.
“This is not a time for celebration. It is a time to regroup and focus all our energy on recovery. Our emergency personnel, police, fire, DPW, and others are fully engaged in responding to this crisis. Their work and the safety of our residents must come first.”
What Happens Next
State and local officials will continue to assess damage and restore essential services in the affected areas. Investigations into the storm’s impact are ongoing, and Fourth of July events in several towns have been canceled or postponed. Governor Murphy is expected to provide further updates as recovery efforts progress.
The post New Jersey Governor Responds to Severe Storm That Killed 3 appeared first on Newsweek.
