Camden County Braces For Approaching Nor'easter

Camden County is prepared for a storm the National Weather Service is describing as as a "major nor'easter," which is expected to hit hit New Jersey over a 36-hour period, beginning Thursday night, officials said.

“A powerful coastal storm has the potential to bring strong winds and flooding to areas prone to poor drainage. Camden County crews are already clearing inlet tops of debris, checking on flood gates and preparing barricades and cones in case of the need for road closures,” Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works, said. “Our chippers are fueled and hitched to trucks and chainsaws are fueled and ready in the event downed trees or limbs block county roadways.”

Wind gusts of up to 56 mph are possible. The entire state is under a Hazardous Weather Outlook. South Jersey is expected to see heavy rain, although there is a chance for some snow on Friday. No more than a coating is expected on unpaved roads.

Read more: NJ Weather: 'Strong' Nor'easter Expected: Latest Estimates

Residents are encouraged to drive with caution and avoid low-lying areas where flooding is known to occur, and avoid any downed power lines. At the public works complex in Lindenwold, a fleet of about 100 vehicles stand ready to keep Camden County’s 1,200 lane miles of roadways passable.

“If flooding occurs in our area, never drive your vehicle into areas where water covers the roadway,” Shin Angulo said. “Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.”

In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, please remember to immediately call your utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore your power. Any storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures. Below are numbers and contact info for the two power providers in Camden County:

• 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.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/

• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/

As always, use 911 for emergencies only. Anyone who sees a problem on a county road should call the 24-hour hotline at 856-566-2980 to report it to CCDPW.

Patch file photo