Governor Christie Declares State Of Emergency For New Jersey Ahead Of Winter Storm
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Governor Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency for the Garden State ahead of the anticipated major winter blast.
A blizzard warning is in effect for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Union counties.
There were reports that snow was already falling in some parts of New Jersey by 10:40 p.m.
Parts of New Jersey could get some of the highest snow totals in our area, with some people preparing for up to 2 feet of snow.
Folks in Morris County are ready for the worst, and their biggest priority is food shopping.
"It's crazy, it's so crowded," shopper Marita Gilbert tells CBS2's Meg Baker. "The line is so long and everybody is buying everything afraid the storm will last forever."
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"Tomorrow I'm going to stay inside all day," Morristown resident Vince Walters said.
More than a foot of snow is forecast in some parts of the state, along with wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour. The snow is expected to begin late Monday and snow is forecast to continue until Tuesday evening.
Some Morris County seniors gathered at a local community center not only to enjoy lunch but to make sure they had a hot meal for the impending blizzard. County officials also went door to door with food.
"This morning due to the fact that the storm is coming we ordered double meals," county nutritionist Ophelia Cruse said. "2100 Meals went out to home bound clients."
Public works crews have already started treating the roads and loaded their trucks with salt. Gov. Christie said that public and private snow removal trucks are getting ready for Tuesday's storm. He says that the state's salt supply is at 75 percent of its capacity because of the mild winter.
"We're doing all the things that we normally do to get ready for a storm," Christie said. "The plows, the salters, the sanders -- they're all ready to go."
Jeffrey Paul of the Morris County EMS says it's best to stay off local roads so emergency vehicles can work without impediment.
Residents in the rest of the state are getting ready.
Down in Monmouth County, officials are warning residents not only about the snow, but of the potential flooding brought on by a full moon, high tide, and strong winds.
"It's expected to be a major winter storm with coastal flooding and is a big concern for Monmouth County," county Sheriff Shaun Golden said Monday. "Particularly during Tuesday morning's high tide. If we all heed to the warnings and pay close attention to the storm's impact, we should get through this without incident."
In Belmar, temporary sand berms were put into place to serve as a last line of defense from storm flooding, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported. The six or seven-foot-high mounds are expected to keep the ocean from reaching the street.
"Ever since Sandy we fully prepare for a storm like that," Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said.
"I have cookies, crackers things that we don't have to cook if the gas goes. Dry cereal, milk we could just put outside it'll be so cold," said Carlstadt resident Jeanette Saez.
Chris, who grew up in Poland, had a more optimistic view.
"Funny thing is, milk and bread is flying from the shelves, but it's still winter, come on," he told 1010 WINS' John Montone. "In probably next two, three months, we're going to complain that it's going to be too hot."
Coastal flood warnings are also in effect.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
