Code Blue Weather Advisory For Gloucester Township As Camden County Prepares For Snow

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Camden County will be under a “Code Blue” weather advisory each night through the weekend, county officials announced Thursday morning.

The Health Officer issued the Code Blue advisory for Camden County effective from 6 p.m. on Jan. 5 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 6. The Code Blue is also in effect from 6 p.m. on Jan. 6 to 6 a.m. Jan. 7, from 6 p.m. Jan. 7 to 6 a.m. Jan. 8 and again from 6 p.m. Jan. 8 to 6 a.m. Jan. 9.

“Throughout the weekend, the temperature will be well below the freezing point each night. In these extreme weather conditions, we need everyone to be sheltered and out of the elements,” 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 county was also already preparing for the possibility of overnight snow.

A relatively quick period of snow was expected overnight Thursday into Friday, with occasional light flurries possible between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The steadiest snow was expected overnight, with temperatures dropping to around 25 degrees. A total of 1-3 inches of snow was expected to impact the Friday morning commute, although precipitation was expected to end by the Friday morning rush hour.

“Even though we are still hours away from seeing the first snowflake, our crews have our equipment prepped and trucks are loaded with product to address any and all situations that may arise,” Camden County Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said. “Our public works employees will be on the job to keep roadways passible, but we need everyone to remain extra cautious behind the wheel.”

Shin Angulo warned residents to beware of slick road conditions, and to stay six car lengths behind Department of Public Works vehicles while they worked.

“Also, while our crews are working in the community please park all vehicles off the roadways so we can effectively plow the area,” Shin Angulo said.

The county has more than 100 pieces of equipment ready to keep county roadways passable and drivers moving.

If the weather becomes treacherous personnel will be dispatched to 12 winter maintenance districts to salt and plow 1,400 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.

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue Weather Advisory, 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 extreme weather conditions, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez said. “It is important that the most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity.”

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.

In Gloucester Township, warming centers are located at the Hider Lane Senior Center (1571 Hider Lane, 856-228-9015) and the boro hall (1261 Chews Landing Road, 856-228-4000).

Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.

Residents are reminded to report power outages directly to the appropriate utility provider list below:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476 http://www.atlanticcityelectri...
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/

Patch file photo