State of emergency declared in New Jersey for snowstorm, travel ban in effect
New Jersey has issued a state of emergency as a winter storm with potentially 10+ inches of snow is on track to hit the state Sunday into Monday.
The storm started Sunday afternoon and will intensify at night, when as much as 2 inches of snow an hour could fall. A blizzard warning is in effect in New Jersey, as this could produce whiteout conditions.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued the state of emergency for Sunday, Feb. 22, and urged residents to stay off the roads during the storm. The state of emergency took effect at 12 p.m.
Sherrill told CBS News that 5,000 utility workers are ready to help keep electricity running and respond to power outages.
NJ Transit is warning riders to prepare for possible service adjustments including delays and cancellations as the storm develops.
Travel restrictions in New Jersey
State police have put a "full travel ban" in place on all roads except the New Jersey Turnpike starting at 9 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday. Due to the treacherous conditions, the ban was extended until noon Monday.
Emergency and public safety workers, snow removal and public works crews, public transportation vehicles, government officials, utility crews, health care workers, patients seeking urgent critical care and their escorts, news crews, private snow removal contractors and airline workers are exempt from the ban, according to New Jersey State Police.
Travel to maintain critical infrastructure and essential services including energy, fuel, food, pharmacies and hardware stores is also allowed.
Light rail, Access Link and buses will stop service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sherrill said. Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains will stop service at 9 p.m. Some service will end before 9 p.m., NJ Transit said.
Atlantic City preparing for storm
Officials in Atlantic City held a news conference Saturday urging residents to move their cars off snow emergency routes ahead of the storm.
Free parking will be available in The Wave Garage and the Showboat garage for residents.
City officials said Friday there are more than 1,500 tons of salt onhand and the 28 plow trucks will be ready to go.
Jersey City prepares for blizzard
As preparations get underway across the state, many cities, including Paterson and Jersey City, are finalizing their action plans to tackle the impending blizzard. Some residents are looking for redemption after last month's storm served up multiple obstacles during the clean-up efforts.
"The biggest problem is that it was piling up and I'm not trying to lie, me parking my car got stuck a lot of times," Paterson resident Rosa Valderama told CBS News New York's Andrew Ramos.
Paterson officials announced that up to 40 public works trucks will be hitting the pavement by midday Sunday, while Jersey City got a head start on prepping roads on Friday.
"Our focus will be on the main streets, and making sure we keep those roads open," Jersey City Mayor James Solomon said.
While the conditions on Sunday and Monday are expected to be more harsh and severe than last month's storm, officials have not yet made a decision on suspending public transit. Sherrill said her team will be tracking the storm and will make a decision if conditions worsen.
Philadelphia storm preps
Mayor Cherelle Parker and other city officials provided an update on storm preparations Saturday evening.
Parker declared a snow emergency that went into effect at 4 p.m. Sunday as blizzard-like conditions are expected to hit the region.
