State of emergency in effect for N.J. as snowstorm makes for treacherous travel conditions
Published: Monday, December 27, 2010, 7:59 AM Updated: Monday, December 27, 2010, 8:16 AM
Weather and road conditions were awful this morning as residents tried to ease into the work week after the first major snowstorm of the season all but shut down the state a day earlier and left a bus carrying about 50 people marooned on a highway.
State Sen. President Stephen Sweeney, serving as acting governor with Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno out of state, declared a state of emergency Sunday night and ordered that government offices open two hours late today as the digging out commences.
New Jersey Transit and PATCO trains were put on modified schedules for the day with trains running less frequency.
Forecasters said the storm had dumped as much as 21 inches of snow on some areas by early today. Light snow was still falling some areas and strong winds continued to gust across the state, blowing snow back on to plowed roadways.
Blizzard warnings issued for several Central Jersey towns were canceled just before 7 a.m. today, but remained in effect for southern Jersey. However, blowing and drifting snow was expected to remain a problem in all areas on today, as wind gusts were expected to be around 50 mph during the day.
Meanwhile, winter storm warnings issued for the rest of the state remained in effect this morning.
Monday's NJ Transit Plan:
• By rail: Enhanced weekend schedule on all lines except Atlantic City line (regular weekday schedule). To plan a trip on njtransit.com, customers should use Jan. 17, 2011 (MLK Jr. Day) as their travel date.
• By bus: Customers may experience delays, detours or service suspensions, and are advised to plan accordingly.
• By light rail: Operating normally.
• Tickets: Systemwide cross-honoring through 11:59 p.m. Customers may use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode — rail, bus or light rail.
• Buildings: All rail station buildings and waiting rooms will remain open for extended hours.
From Union County into Newark, Route 22 was moving in both directions after
7 a.m. Traffic was traveling between 25 and 35 miles per hour, mostly in a
single lane. However, most of the U-turns and exit ramps were blocked <
either by snow or the dozens of cars that were abandoned.
In Monmouth County, snow drifts of up to five feet contributed to stalling a passenger bus on the Garden State Parkway, where snow plows were having a difficult time cleaning because there were so many stranded cars cluttering the ramps, state police spokesman Steve Jones said. Ambulances couldn't reach the bus, and state troopers took their own water and food to the bus to give to people who were feeling ill, he said.
One of the buses was freed shortly before 7 a.m., and officials were hoping to have the other freed soon.
The state police's superintendent, Col. Rick Fuentes, toured parts of the state in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to assess the conditions of the roadways and pleaded with people to stay home. Jones described the conditions, particularly in the East Orange area, as "terrible" and said they were causing safety hazards.
Many flights scheduled in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport were canceled. By Sunday evening, NJ Transit halted bus service, and the suspension remained in effect early today.
Officials begged motorists not to go out. Many didn't. But those who did found the treacherous roads to be slow-going — or worse.
Raquel and Amir Dayan had to get help digging out after ending up in a median along Interstate 195 as they attempted to travel from their home in Philadelphia to her parents' place in Oakcrest. The falling snow was so blinding the couple didn't realize they'd left the road at first.
"You couldn't see anything. We just kind of stopped moving," Raquel Dayan said.
For many families the snow meant a day of indoor togetherness after Christmas.
Shopping centers that would normally be packed with people eager to use new gift cards and exchange unwanted presents had plenty of open parking spots on Sunday. In some places, like the Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson, snow plows outnumbered vehicles driven by shoppers.
The weather didn't keep Shoba Dorai from making the trip to the outlet stores in Jackson from Edison with a girlfriend and her friend's two toddlers.
"It was not that bad when we left this morning around 10:30," Dorai said. "I guess it was not a great idea, though."
By 3 p.m., many of the shops were closed for the day.
In Cherry Hill, business at places that don't sell necessities such as milk, bread and snow shovels was slow. But there was a line outside the Redbox DVD rental kiosk at a Walgreens store. On a day with few other options, everyone seemed to be bunkering in with family.
Danny Hernandez, of New York City, was staying with family an extra night rather than making the trip home.
"I've got work tomorrow," he said. "I already called out. Hopefully, it's not for the whole week."
Snowfall totals as of 5:30 a.m.
Atlantic City (Atlantic County): 17.4 inches
Cape May (Cape May County): 18 inches
Clinton (Hunterdon County): 5.7 inches
Elizabeth (Union County): 19 inches
Ewing (Mercer County): 11.5 inches
Lincoln Park (Morris County): 18 inches
Mahwah (Bergen County): 17 inches
Middletown (Monmouth County): 21 inches
Mount Holly (Burlington County): 12.4 inches
National Park (Gloucester County): 12 inches
Newport (Cumberland County): 13 inches
North Brunswick (Middlesex County): 20.2 inches
Sayreville (Middlesex County): 21 inches
Somers Point (Atlantic County): 16.3 inches
Wayne (Passaic County): 10 inches
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