STORM UPDATED: Governor Declares State of Emergency in Face of Winter Storm

Published on December 16, 2020

State Offices to Close Beginning at 1:00 P.M. Today for Non-Weather Essential Personnel

Governor Phil Murphy today declared that New Jersey will enter a state of emergency beginning Wednesday, December 16, 2020,at 2:00 p.m. in response to theexpectedwinter storm. Morris County government offices also will close at 2 p.m.

The storm is anticipated create hazardous conditions and may continue through Thursday evening. Executive Order No. 208declares a state of emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm. The Governor has also initiated a staggered closing for state officesbeginning at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon.The early dismissal does not include weather-essential employees, who shall remain until the normal close of business. Private companies and businesses are advised to dismiss their employees at their own discretion.

(Watch for Updated Alerts on Morris County OEM's Facebook page.)

Parts of New Jersey are expected to experience heavy snow. To prepare for the winter storm, the New Jersey State Police will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in order to monitor the storm. The New Jersey Department of Transportation will also deploy nearly 4,000 plows and spreaders to keep roads and communities safe.

The Governor encourages New Jerseyans to visit ready.nj.gov for important weather updates and safety information. New Jersey residents should also pay attention to local forecasts, warnings, and watches.

For those living in Central and Southern New Jersey, visit the U.S. National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly athttp://www.weather.gov/phi/

For those living in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area, visit the U.S. National Weather Service New York, N.Y. athttp://www.weather.gov/okx/

Important Tips to Remember When Preparing for Winter Weather:

• Secure loose items in your yard such as trash cans, children's toys, and lawn decorations.
• Build an emergency kit that includes supplies for the whole family, including pets. Due to COVID-19 there are a few updates to preparing for this winter season such as including hand soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant supplies and cloth face coverings in your emergency kits/go-bags.
• Have cash on hand. If the power is out, so are the ATMs and credit card machines.
• Know how to report a power outage to your utility company.
• Know where your utility shut off valves (gas, electric, water) are and how to use them.
• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
• Be sure to keep an adequate amount of gas in your car.
• Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who have access or functional needs.Due to COVID-19, in person visits may not be ideal under certain circumstances. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. Use other means of communication such as phone, text or video chat to check on neighbors and help prepare them.
• Be sure to have extra medications on hand and keep them in a water-resistant container.
• Get all of your vital records and insurance papers together now. Keep them in a water-resistant container. If you can, scan and email them to yourself so you have a copy of important numbers and policies, etc.
• Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out.

A copy of Executive Order No. 208 can be found here.