(Lindenwold, NJ) – As a heavy winter storm is forecasted to impact South Jersey beginning Sunday, Jan. 25 into Monday, Jan. 26, the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the Camden County Department of Public Works are prepared to handle any and all emergencies due to the weather. Southern New Jesey is expected to receive anywhere from 8 -12 inches of snow.
“We have not seen a snowstorm of this magnitude and severity in over a decade. The safety of the residents of Camden County is paramount and our number one priority,” said Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Department of Public Safety. “The more people we have out on the roads, the greater chance there is of an emergency situation unfolding. If it is not absolutely necessary, please stay home, and off the roads.”
Camden County’s Department of Public Works and Camden County Parks Department will be working throughout the duration of the storm to ensure that county roadways are passable, and to respond to downed trees and debris. Additionally, due to the impeding inclement weather, all branches of the Camden County Library System will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 25.
A steady accumulation of snow will begin early Sunday morning and continue to fall for up to 24 hours. We are expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow by the end of the storm. Skies are expected to clear by Sunday evening, with the wind dying down as well. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low teens overnight on Sunday.
“We will be closely monitoring this storm and are in consistent communication with our partners at the state, and our local municipalities,” Young continued. “In addition, crews will be ready for any other challenges like downed trees, and other variables that will come from this winter weather system.”
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.
Commissioner Young offers residents the following tips to prepare for the storm:
- Keep bottled water, and non-perishable food on hand
- Full charge all electronic devices ahead of the storm
- If you must go outside, dress in layers, and cover any exposed skin
- Assemble an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, battery-powered radio, first-aid supplies, toiletries, medications, and other essentials.
- Avoid frozen pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run from your faucets throughout the duration of the storm, and consider wrapping insulating exposed pipes.
- Keep your pets indoors as much as possible, and make sure your pet has clean, unfrozen drinking water.
- Ensure that your carbon monoxide detector is in working order, and do not operate any gasoline-powered generators or heating devices indoors.
Heavy ice and snow can damage powerlines and may lead to outages. In the event the weather causes isolated power outages, please immediately call your utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore your power. Residents are advised to be cognizant of any power failures. Fallen overhead power lines should never be approached or touched even if the lines do not appear to be live or sparking.
Below are numbers and contact information for the power providers in Camden County:
- PSE&G: You can report a power outage by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734), report it online at https://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks, or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).
- Atlantic City Electric: Text OUT to 20661, report it online at https://secure.atlanticcityelectric.com/powerOutages, or call 1-800-833-7476.
- South Jersey Gas: Call 1-888-766-9900 or visit www.southjerseygas.com.
Please only use 9-1-1 for emergencies. If you see a problem on a county road, please call our 24-hour hotline at (856) 566-2980 to report it to the Camden County Department of Public Works.
Weather and road condition updates will be available at www.camdencounty.com.