Severe thunderstorms could hit Camden County within the next few hours.
Camden County’s Department of Public Works is ready to take action as a storm system could bring severe thunderstorms to the region within the next few hours.
“Camden County crews are clearing inlet tops of debris, checking on flood gates and preparing barricades and cones in case of the need for road closures,” said Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County DWP. “Our chippers are fueled and hitched to trucks and chainsaws are fueled and ready in the event downed trees or limbs block county roadways.”
A line of storms passing through the area from 5 to 9 p.m. can produce isolated wind gusts of 40 to 60 miles per hour and very heavy downpours. This could cause issues for the evening commute, as the storm has the potential to produce widespread rain rates of up to two inches of precipitation per hour.
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 1,400 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, residents should call their utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore your power. This storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines, and residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures.
If there is a problem on a county road, residents can call the county’s 24-hour hotline at (856) 566–2980 to report it to DPW. Residents should only dial 911 for emergencies.
