Snow and power outages are the primary concern for officials as the storm nears the region.
As an approaching nor’easter threatens to deliver three to six inches of snow across Camden County, work is already underway at the Camden County Department of Public Works to respond to the inclement conditions moving throughout the region.
“The first snowflakes from the coastal storm could fall this evening and continue until tomorrow night. This will be an all-hands-on deck operation for Camden County crews as they work to keep Camden County roads passable,” said Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the department of public works. “During the height of the storm, we could experience accumulation rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow, along with gusty winds expected, there is a serious threat of downed trees and power outages. It is important that you and your family are prepared.”
At the public works complex in Lindenwold, more than 100 pieces of equipment are available to keep county roadways passable. When the weather becomes treacherous, personnel will be dispatched to 12 winter maintenance districts to salt and plow 1,200 lane miles of roadways across Camden County. The county’s response plan calls for crews to be dispatched only to the zones where they are needed.
“If you don’t have to travel, please stay off the roads to give our crews the ability to effectively do their job. Anyone on the roadways during the storm should be prepared to encounter poor visibility and slick road conditions. Always leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our operations,” Shin Angulo said. “Remember that it is illegal in New Jersey to plow or shovel snow from private property into roadways.”
In addition to treating and plowing county roadways, public works crews will be preparing a comprehensive tree removal operation to support our plows. In order for trucks to have access over the highways and byways of the county, there will be a strategic team removing trees. Nevertheless, if trees fall into the roadway and take down electrical lines the county will have to wait on the utility to power down the wires before they can start to work on them.
“Our chippers are fueled and hitched to trucks and chainsaws are fueled and ready in the event downed trees or limbs block county roadways.” Shin Angulo said. “Always remember to never approach downed wires, and report them to your local power company as soon as possible.”
Ahead of the storm, Camden County has issued a Code Blue advisory for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.
“With a coastal storm bringing snow and freezing rain to our area, temperatures will remain in the low 30s the next two nights. During these extreme conditions, we need everyone to be sheltered and protected from the elements,” Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez said. “If you must leave the house, please dress yourself and your children in warm clothing, hats and gloves. Also, please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors, and bring your pets indoors.”
The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans. Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather. Anyone seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality.
