NJ Blizzard: Code Blue in Place as Collingswood Recovery Continues

Camden County will be under a Code Blue Advisory Monday night as it continues to recover from what the Camden County Freeholder Board called “one of the largest blizzards the public works department has had to combat in the modern era” Monday afternoon.

The Camden County Health Officer issued the Code Blue Advisory effective from 6 p.m. Monday night to 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

“Now that we have survived one of the largest blizzards in Camden County’s history we continue to combat frigid temperatures. Temperatures are expected to drop back down to 20 degrees overnight, so everyone should be sheltered and out of the elements during this severe weather,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, 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 men and women of public works and the supporting county departments have done a tremendous job against the extreme forces of mother nature this past weekend. Of course, we are back on the street today to liberate all lanes of the highway system from any remaining snow patches and widen intersections throughout the county,” Camden County Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works said. “This is still an all hands on deck winter weather event heading into day four of our operation. The county’s employees have done an outstanding job combating and cleaning up this blizzard, which is why we were fully operational and open for business at 8:30 a.m.”

More than 100 pieces of equipment are still on the road clearing county highways, officials said. Personnel continue to work in our 12 winter maintenance districts to treat and plow all county roadways. Snow totals vary throughout the county with Lindenwold seeing about 14 inches and Gloucester City getting more than 20 inches.

“I think it is critical to take it easy shoveling this heavy, wet snow. We have already seen tragic consequences in the region from excessive shoveling,” Shin Angulo said. “In addition, while digging out for residents and businesses will go on for a couple more days please remember that it is illegal in New Jersey to plow or shovel snow from private property into public roadways.”

Minimal power outages were reported over the weekend, and both Atlantic City Electric and PSE&G were reporting virtually no outages on Monday.

The following speed restrictions remained in place, according to 511nj.org:

As of 5:24am, there’s a Speed restriction and Weather related on the Burlington Bristol Bridgein both directions from New Jersey Side in Burlington to Pennsylvania Side in Bristol 25 miles per hour, use caution.

As of 5:24am, there’s a Speed restriction and Weather related on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in both directions from New Jersey Side in Palmyra to Pennsylvania Side in Philadelphia 25 miles per hour. Walkway is closed until further notice., use caution.

The latest forecast shows a mostly sunny day and a high around 35 degrees. Clouds move in Monday night and temperatures drop down to 20 degrees with light winds out of the southwest.

On Tuesday, the temperature will rise to 45 degrees and bring possible rain that should hasten the snowmelt from the weekend’s blizzard.

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Severe Weather Emergency, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.

“During these weather emergencies, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez said. “It is important that most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity.”

In Collingswood, warming centers can be found at the following locations:

• Collingswood Borough Municipal Building, 678 Haddon Avenue;
• Collingswood Fire House, 20 West Collings Avenue;
• Collingswood Library, 771 Haddon Avenue; and
• Collingswood Senior Center, 30 West Collings Avenue