Millburn Prepares For Blizzard: Schools, Parking, Garbage, Shoveling, Power Outages

MILLBURN, NJ — New Jersey is under a state of emergency as a severe winter storm bears down on the state, including Millburn.

The National Weather Service is predicting that up to two feet of snow may fall in Millburn on Sunday and Monday (see local forecast below). Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s state of emergency declaration took effect at noon on Sunday.

“I am announcing speed restriction of 35 miles-per-hour, which will take effect at 3 p.m.,” Sherrill said. “A commercial vehicle ban will also take effect at 3 p.m. [Sunday] on all our highways – except the Turnpike.”

>> READ MORE: Highway Speed Restrictions, Travel Bans In Place As Brutal Blizzard Barrels Into NJ

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Millburn, with a Blizzard Warning for the town lasting until 6 p.m. on Monday.

Here’s the 48-hour local forecast for Millburn, as per the NWS:

Sunday Afternoon - Snow. Steady temperature around 33. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday Night - Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Areas of blowing snow after 1am. Low around 27. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 18 to 23 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 11 to 17 inches possible.

Monday - Snow, mainly before 1pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Areas of blowing snow before 4pm. High near 34. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 21 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Monday Night - Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

MILLBURN BATTENS DOWN THE HATCHES

Millburn public schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 23. The board of education meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

Garbage and recycling collection has been cancelled for Monday, Feb. 23.

Here are some other things to keep in mind in Millburn when the snow starts falling, township officials say:

BE PREPARED

• Residents are reminded to move their cars from streets and park them in driveways so our public works crews can clear streets if there is plowable snowfall. Public Works will begin plowing after an accumulation of 2 inches.
• No overnight street parking: Sunday, February 22 – Monday, February 23 or Monday, February 23 – Tuesday, February 24
• Do not park in any municipal lot
• Please shovel the walkways around your homes, but do not put shoveled snow back into the street after your street has been plowed.
• Millburn DPW has mobilized to respond to this weather event by ensuring that their equipment is prepared, and shifts are staffed. Salting operations will likely not occur in advance of this storm system beginning as a result of rain.
• Millburn Police Department, Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services are at a full complement of manpower on stand-by.
• Localized power outages are possible. Residents are urged to stay away from any downed wires and treat all downed wires as “live” even if power appears to be out in the area.
• Use caution while driving today and into the evening. Areas of icing on untreated surfaces are also possible in the evening into the overnight.
• Prevention Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Do not run any fuel-powered generators in a garage or other enclosed space or near windows. This is a good time to test battery-powered smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

CLOSURES AND DELAYED OPENINGS

Any deviations to Municipal Offices hours of operation will be issued in separate messaging or posted on the Township’s social media platforms.

SNOW REMOVAL

• Remove cars from roadways, especially along snow routes
• Do not throw, plow or blow snow onto the street
• Clear out fire hydrants near your home
• Stay off roadways as much as possible

POWER OUTAGES

• Power outages can be reported directly to JCP&L at the following link: https://www.firstenergycorp.com/outages_help/Report_Power_Outages.html
• Touching a power line can cause serious injury or death. You can't tell by looking whether a line is "live" or "hot" or not. Even if a downed line isn't actively sparking, always assume it is carrying electricity.
• Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed power line, and don't go near the pole or anything touching the line.
• Call 911 immediately if a power line is down. (Note: please use this option only if you actually see a downed wire. Do not assume that because your power is out there must be a wire down somewhere.)
• Warn others to stay at least 30 feet away from the line until help arrives. Keep pets away, too.
• Customers with a communication disability can report a downed wire using the appropriate TTY/TDD relay service.
• If a downed line is near water - even a small puddle - keep well away.
• Be careful not to stand under damaged tree limbs or power lines. Tree limbs can become weakened during a storm but not fall until several hours or days later. The same can be true for damaged power lines or poles.
• Don't drive or walk over downed power lines.
• If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay inside the vehicle until help arrives.
• Downed power lines that come in contact with a vehicle create a dangerous situation. Do not touch the vehicle. Call 911 immediately to report it.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR UTILITY COMPANIES:

Jersey Central Power & Light (Electricity) 1-800-544-4877
PSE&G (Natural Gas) 1-800-436-7734
New Jersey American Water Company (Water Distribution) 1-800-272-1325
Comcast (Cable/Internet) 1-800-266-2278
Verizon Fios (Cable/Internet) 1-888-438-3467
Verizon 1-800-827-4966
As always, please reserve 9-1-1 for EMERGENCIES ONLY.
Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (Non-Emergency) 908-263-7550
Millburn Police (Non-Emergency) 973-564-7001
Millburn Fire (Non-Emergency) 973-564-7035

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