Brick Gears Up For Storm, Issues Safety Reminders

BRICK, NJ — As forecasts continue to call for significant snowfall across much of New Jersey this weekend, Brick Township officials are issuing more reminders to residents about coping with the storm.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency for all of New Jersey as the National Weather Service forecasts on Friday afternoon continued to call for at least 6 inches of snow across most of the state up to 16 inches from Saturday evening into Sunday.

Icing of the roads is a concern as well, the weather service said.

Read more: New Snow, Ice Totals Projected As ‘Dangerous’ Track Shifts For NJ’s Weekend Storm

Mayor Lisa Crate said she and the township's emergency management officials met Friday and contractors had been mobilized for plowing.

The town was going to begin salting late Saturday into Sunday, then shift to plowing "until all streets are clear," Crate said. There will be more salting to address icy spots and problem areas once plowing is finished.

"We have over 750 miles of roadway (1,500 local streets) to attend to, so we ask that all cars be removed from the streets to assist with snow clearing," Crate said. "This is a large storm that looks to be parking itself over the entire state for about 24 hours so it will take time to clear all streets, but crews will be out in force to get it done."

Plowing typically begins when there is 4 inches of snow accumulation on the roads.

Brick Township police also urged residents to stay off the roads if travel bans are issued. For those who do venture out: "Do not drive through deep snow. Stuck or abandoned vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense," the police department said.

If your power goes out, residents should call Jersey Central Power & Light at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report the outage. Power outages also can be reported on the company's website, and residents can monitor outages on the website as well.

"Please do NOT call the police non-emergency line for power updates," police said.

Safety reminders

• Make sure carbon monoxide alarms are working. Replace batteries if needed.
• Clear snow from any dryer vents and furnace exhaust vents to prevent dangerous gas buildup inside your home."
• Never put your hands near snowblower blades. Turn the machine OFF and use a tool to clear jams.
• Shoveling is strenuous. If you have a cardiac history or aren't used to intense exercise, take breaks or ask for help.
• If you have a fire hydrant on your property, remember to clear out around it so firetrucks can access it quickly in an emergency.

"Most importantly, stay warm and look out for your neighbors!" Brick Township police said. "Your cooperation helps us keep Brick Township running smoothly."

"I want to be clear that this is not an average storm," Sherrill said, noting that a storm this intense has not been seen in about a decade. She urged residents to stay home.

"Please stay off the roads," Sherrill said. She added not to make any plans for Monday, as "we may still be digging out."

The storm will move into the area Saturday night, with snow becoming moderate to heavy by daybreak Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.