Gloucester County warns residents to protect themselves during the winter
There are measures in place on the county level to cope with freezing temperatures. The county can call for a Code Blue Alert during these times.
“A Code Blue Alert is declared whenever temperatures drop below the freezing point and weather conditions pose a danger to the homeless population,” Debra Selitto, a county spokeswoman, said. “The Code Blue Alert allows authorities to take homeless people to local shelters or other agencies known as warming centers.”
The warming center in Washington Township is the Gloucester County Division of Social Services (400 Hollydell Drive), which is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. For more information, contact the Gloucester County Division of Social Services at (856) 582–9200.
Gloucester County has a hotline (800–648–0132) residents can call if they have any questions or need help. Selitto said the line is staffed 24 hours every day and is toll-free.
When it comes to personal snow removal, homeowners and/or tenants have 24 hours to remove snow from their sidewalks, according to township code. Residents are encouraged to park in driveways prior to a storm if possible.
After a snowstorm, drivers are required by state law to remove all snow and ice before driving. Fines can range from $25 to $75 per offense. If the snow or ice flies off and causes property damage, fines jump to $200 to $1,000 per offense.
Brian McCaffery, the road department supervisor, outlined what goes into removing snow from the township roads.
“We monitor the forecast very closely throughout the winter months,” he said. “When we see something that looks like a credible threat, we make sure our equipment is ready to go.”
Once the plows are attached and salt spreaders are hooked up, his department is in wait-and-see mode. Being prepared and playing the waiting game is of the utmost importance for the road department.
McCaffery is no stranger to the snow removal game — he’s been with the township for 20 years in multiple roles. Starting as a laborer with shoveling duties to a driving a plow, he now works as a supervisor planning what to do in a storm situation.
“The forecast doesn’t come into focus until it’s right upon you,” he said. “We see if we can handle it with in-house staff or bring in subcontractors to assist us with the removal process.”
The rule of thumb McCaffery follows is, between one and three inches of snow, the public works staff can handle alone. Once the storm gets into the three- to six-inches range, they’ll call in the subcontractors.
“If it’s a large storm, we can have upwards of 70 pieces of equipment clearing the town,” he said.
According to McCaffery, the township has 16 pieces of equipment in-house, the other 60 pieces come from the subcontractors.
The goal of the department is to have the roads passable within 24 hours of a storm. McCaffery said, for a smaller storm, they can have roads passable 14 hours post-storm. This is made possible because of those who work for the township.
“Our people are dedicated, they work long hours away from their families,” he said.
McCaffery believes the team is so effective because of the support they receive from the township.
“We get full, 100 percent support from our administration, the mayor, council, business administrator and my direct boss, director of municipal services Ernie D’Orazio,” he said. “They give us all the means we need and they don’t question it; they let the hard-working staff do their job. They definitely deserve a lot of credit.”
