'I need help, please': Woman with special needs struggles during power outage in Matawan

Most people without power deal with some sweaty sleepless nights, spoiled food and no TV, but for one woman in Matawan the outage was far more serious.

News 12 Staff

Aug 7, 2020, 11:21 PM

Updated 1,571 days ago

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Most people without power deal with some sweaty sleepless nights, spoiled food and no TV, but for one woman in Matawan the outage was far more serious.
"I need help, please," says 35-year-old Natasha Ramirez.
Ramirez, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, depends on an elevator to take her up and down the stairs in her home.
When the power went out during Tuesday's storm, Ramirez's aide Nancy Grossman jumped into action and bought a generator with her own money. The only problem was that the generator only powered the lights and air conditioner.
Ramirez was forced to miss doctor's appointments and her daily walks with her mom Chiara Zannino.
Zannino is worried about her daughter having a seizure and how she would get her out of the house if there was a fire.
"I would just take her in a blanket and try to drag her down the stairs," says Zannino. "It's six steps and try to pick her up."
Zannino has been calling JCP&L nonstop, demanding power be restored.
Fortunately, Ramirez and her mom sent a picture to News 12 showing how the lights had finally come back on.
Zannino says there are still other houses on her block without power.
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