Winter Storm Jonas (South Orange Updates)

Winter Storm Jonas

This page will be updated as new information becomes available over the course of the storm. Ensure you, your family and your neighbors are signed up for emergency alerts at https://nj-southorange.civicready.com/

Winter Storm Jonas and Blizzard Preparedness Information

Winter storm and blizzard watches have been posted for much of the tri-state area. This means hazardous winter weather conditions such as heavy snow and blizzard conditions due to winds of 55 mph or higher with snow. Blowing snow may reduce visibility to less than 1/4 mile for at least 3 hours and will affect the area in the next 24 to 48 hours but its occurrence location and timing are still uncertain.

The National Weather Service issues Blizzard watch will remain in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. 

* Hazard types - heavy snow along with strong and potentially damaging winds. 
* Accumulations - snow accumulation of 7 to 12 inches.
* Winds - northeast 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.
* Temperatures - in the upper 20s lower 30s.
* Visibilities - one quarter mile or less at times.
* Timing - Saturday morning through Sunday morning.
* Impacts... extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds with whiteout conditions likely. Secondary and tertiary roads may become impassable. Strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs. 

Precautionary/preparedness actions.

A blizzard watch means there is a potential for falling and/or blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibilities. This can lead to whiteout conditions and make travel very dangerous.

South Orange Specific:

- Sign up with our SOINFORM (Emergency Notification System) https://nj-southorange.civicready.com/ for emergency alerts throughout town. 

- The South Orange Health Department Rabies Clinic scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. HAS BEEN CANCELLED. The rescheduled date is Saturday, February 20th 9 – 11 a.m. at 298 Walton Avenue.

- Sidewalks must be shoveled 12 daylight hours after the end of the snow fall and 4 daylight hours for business. 

- While clearing sidewalks and aprons please ensure not to throw snow into the roadways. 

-All residents with On-Street parking permits must move their vehicles to the nearest municipal parking lot to allow street for plowing. Failure to move your vehicle could result in ticketing and/or towing 

-The “Snow Route” for Newstead, and Upper and Lower Wyoming may be put into effect on Monday, January 25 pending road conditions. Check the Village website and/or SOPA office phone for voice message updates.

PSE&G urges customers to be cautious during and after the storm:
-To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline powered engine, including generators and snowblowers, in a garage or any other enclosed space.

- Downed wires should always be considered "live." Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with.

- To report downed wires or power outages, call PSE&G's Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. You can also report power outages and view the status of an outage by logging in to My Account on pseg.com, PSE&G's mobile-friendly website.

If you need assistance at any point do not hesitate to call the SOPD non-emergency at 973 763 3000, or 9-1-1 in an emergency.

http://southorange.org/notices.asp?guid=ea5d6c4

Thank you, Sheena! 

I'm sure you meant "shoveled" here: "- Sidewalks must be solved 12 daylight hours after the end of the snow fall and 4 daylight hours for business."

Thanks   

Sheena, you rock. Makes me so happy to finally have a VP who gets the necessity of being visible and communicating with her constituents...

bluepool said:

Sheena, you rock. Makes me so happy to finally have a VP who gets the necessity of being visible and communicating with her constituents...

Unlike our current governor

Sheena for governor!

Thank you for the information.

As of 12:00am, Saturday, January 23 - a State of Emergency has been declared for South Orange.  

Parking restrictions are now in place that prohibit all on street parking and we ask residents to stay off the roads until further notice unless absolutely necessary to allow the Department of Public Works and emergency vehicles safe access.

Please share with your neighbors.

Just finished a conference call with Governor Chris Christie and we got briefed by him and some of his cabinet members, etc.

- He said newscasters are being irresponsible in that this is not a "Superstorm Sandy" or anything close to it and that he's not expecting a need for mandatory evacuations.

- The storm is turning into what was expected except for North Jersey where totals are a little higher than they thought (by 2-3 inches - - expect close to 18 inches in this area)

- 3800 pieces of equipment out on highways for clearing, etc.

- Roughly 40,000 people without power right now (mainly in South Jersey and along the coast)
Christie closed by saying that New Jersey is prepared.

------------

On a separate note, just wanted to share with our residents that our Essex County OEM team and State officials have been very organized, forthcoming with information, and ready to assist.

Please stay off the roads (we've had vehicles already get stuck on South Orange Avenue) and please, if you need assistance, contact our South Orange Police Department (non-emergency) at 973 763 3000, or 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Thank you Sheena.   

thanks.  If someone decides to ignore the law and park on the street is there any recourse?  My neighbors all moved their cars and someone parked right in the cleared spots which will make digging out harder for us all.

FilmCarp said:

thanks.  If someone decides to ignore the law and park on the street is there any recourse?  My neighbors all moved their cars and someone parked right in the cleared spots which will make digging out harder for us all.

Yes, they will get ticketed and/or towed.

http://www.southorange.org/notices.asp?guid=ea5d6c43

Update: January 23, 2016 10:00 a.m.

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Police Department, Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Department of Public Works and are all staffed up to handle emergent conditions throughout the duration of the storm and operations are being coordinated through the Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center. OEM  is closely watching the blizzard conditions of Winter Storm Jonas.  Below is the latest information available to the Village, please find earlier updates below as well.

Weather

The forecast is still for heavy snow, with accumulations 12”+ expected overnight and into early Sunday morning, along with freezing temperatures, and extremely high winds. 
More weather information: http://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=b122c10597207946&hl=en&gl=US&source=wweather

Residents are required to clear snow as best as possible from their sidewalks following snowfall, within 12 hours. Do not shovel snow into roadways, as it puts emergency vehicles in danger. Please be careful when shoveling and take frequent breaks.

Emergency Protocols

A State of Emergency is an effect in the Village, county and state wide - South Orange’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated. 

On street parking is prohibited and travel is highly discouraged.  If you have an on street parking permit, please move your vehicle to the nearest municipal lot

OEM is prepared that if a power outage occurs the Village will open a shelter at the Baird Community Center and/or Library. 

Updates and Communication

The Office of Emergency Management next scheduled update will take place at 4 p.m.

The SO Police non-emergency number is 973 763 3000, please understand call volume will be higher than normal at this time. For emergencies dial 911.

You can also find South Orange on Facebook and Twitter for more frequent updates throughout the day and keep up to date at southorange.org

Sign up with our SOINFORM (Emergency Notification System) https://nj-southorange.civicready.com/ for emergency alerts throughout town.

Please report any power outages to PSEG at: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)

NJ TRANSIT - Due to the severe winter weather impacting the region, NJ TRANSIT has announced the temporary full shutdown of the system beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday morning as follows:

Bus, Rail and Light Rail: Bus and rail service will implement a full, temporary shutdown of all service at 2 a.m. Saturday with service resuming as weather conditions permit.

Access Link: Service suspended all day Saturday, resuming Sunday at 12 p.m.

Hello all,

If anyone needs a snow removal service

I will gladly come clear snow for a reasonable rate.

Call anytime 

Tom 973-919-7858

Thanks for all the updates!

Hello all,
If anyone needs a snow removal service.

I will gladly come clear snow for reasonable rates.
Call anytime 
Tom 973-919-7858

Great updates, but can't we lose the silly name!

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/123934-There-is-no-such-thing-as-Winter-Storm-Jonas-

Hello all,
If anyone needs a snow removal service.

I will gladly come clear snow for reasonable rates.
Call anytime 
Tom 973-919-7858

http://southorange.org/notices.asp?guid=ea5d6c43

Saturday, January 23, 4:00PM

There are no updates at this time.

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Police Department, Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Department of Public Works are continuing to handle emergent conditions throughout the duration of this winter storm.

The Office of Emergency Management next scheduled update will take place at 10:00 p.m

Honor Max! Change the thread title!

Can anyone tell me if the South Orange Middle School parking lot is clear of snow? Thanks.

Not sure it is yet but Vic just replied to my husband's e-mail about general plowing and said dump trucks would be used to help clear out school areas. I assume that means SOMS will be ok on the AM.

Who do we talk to about unshoveled sidewalks? #41 on 3rd St never did their's at all last year no matter how much snow was dumped on it, I think it's an empty house. Not really excited about a repeat this year for walking to/from the train every morning. Thanks!