Storm Impacts In Livingston: Closures, Snow, Parking, Power – Patch.com

This article was updated at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 17.

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston was among the New Jersey towns that made preparations and battened down the hatches in the face of a nor’easter predicted to cause heavy winds, snow and rain.

The National Weather Service labeled the “major” system a “nor’easter” since it was expected to produce strong, sustained damaging winds and precipitation over a 24-hour period on Wednesday and Thursday. The storm was fierce enough to knock down power lines and cause power outages, forecasters said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a state of emergency for New Jersey as some forecasters said a foot of snow may be headed to some areas of the state. Other areas could get winds as strong as 60-mph and heavy rain. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy Declares State Of Emergency For NJ Nor’easter Snow

LIVINGSTON SNOW, PARKING, POWER

The Livingston Police Department issued an advisory to residents on Wednesday morning. Police offered the following “friendly reminders”:

  • Please remove all snow and ice from your sidewalks within 12 hours of daylight after the snow has ceased to fall (T.O. 274-6)
  • Please do not park your vehicles in the roadway at any time during the snow fall or until your roadway is cleared
  • Please remove all snow and ice from your vehicle before driving
  • Please do not throw snow into the roadway from your sidewalk, walkways or driveway
  • Please remove snow accumulation from the area surrounding any fire hydrants on your property
  • In the event that you lose power, please contact: PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or text “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734), or JCPL 1-888-544-4877 or text “REG” to 544487 (LIGHTS)
  • Please do not leave a generator or snow blower running in the immediate area of an open garage door.
  • Please check on your elderly neighbors to insure they are safe and are not in need of any assistance
  • If you find yourself in need of the Livingston Police, Fire or First Aid Squad, for non-emergency assistance please call (973)992-3000, or 911 for emergencies.

LIVINGSTON SCHOOLS

The Livingston Public School District offered the following information about storm preparations on its website:

  • Wednesday, December 16 – “We plan to hold a regular in-person hybrid school session tomorrow morning. All afternoon instruction and activities will be virtual, so that our staff and students can get home before the storm. This includes P.M. PRIDE and full day special education programs. Families of students in these programs will be contacted with specific dismissal times.”
  • Thursday, December 17 – “Since the forecast currently calls for a significant amount of snow beginning Wednesday evening and lasting overnight, and since the snow is likely to be accompanied by high winds and other hazardous conditions, we are planning to use an emergency snow day on Thursday, December 17, 2020. In this scenario, there would be no instruction provided in-person or remotely on Thursday.”

“If the forecast changes significantly, we may choose to modify our plans,” Livingston school administrators said. “We will contact all families Wednesday evening to confirm the plans for Thursday. We will utilize the same communication tools we have always used to inform staff and families about schedule modifications necessitated by inclement weather.”

LIVINGSTON CLOSURES, GARBAGE, LIBRARY

Livingston Township offices were closed as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and are expected to reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Due to the governor’s state of emergency order, there will be no garbage or recycling collection on Thursday, December 17. Garbage will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled collection day, which is Monday, December 21, officials said.

Recycling will move one day later for the rest of the week:

  • Thursday, 12/17 recycling will be picked up on Friday, 12/18
  • Friday, 12/18 recycling will be picked up on Saturday, 12/19

The Livingston Public Library will close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday due to the storm forecast. The library will remain closed on Thursday. Virtual programs will still take place, administrators said.

LIVINGSTON ROADS, SHOVELING

Livingston town officials issued some reminders on Wednesday for local drivers and residents.

  • All municipal roads will be cleared and salted throughout the storm.
  • Clearing of roads will continue well after the snow stops.
  • Stay off of roads during the storm.
  • Do not park on municipal streets.
  • Do not shovel or blow snow into the street.
  • Clear snow from all fire hydrants near your house.
  • All sidewalks must be cleared of snow within 24 hours of when the snow stops falling.
  • You must clean the snow off of your vehicle before driving.

Live on a county-maintained road in Livingston? Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura asked that residents refrain from parking on those streets from Wednesday to Thursday.

The pair of officials stated:

“Keeping the roads open will make it easier to remove snow and enable public works crews to plow from curb to curb. Weather forecasts indicate a significant snowstorm will arrive Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning. The heavy snow may cause tree limbs and electrical to break.”

DiVincenzo and Fontoura warned residents to not touch live wires or drive near them.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY TIPS IN LIVINGSTON

Livingston town officials offered some additional safety tips if the weather gets rough.

  • Stay inside and off of roads throughout and following any storm activity.
  • Be prepared for possible loss of power.
  • Check on children and older individuals who may need assistance.
  • Bring pets inside.
  • Be sure to have a supply of any critical medications that might be needed.Keep all vehicles,
  • containers or other items out of the streets so that Township plows can plow quickly and completely.
  • Be sure to charge all cell phones and mobile devices.
  • Be prepared with supplies and know how to contact your electric and gas utilities in case of a power outage or downed wire.
  • Never approach a downed wire; assume all wires are live.
  • Use generators only in open areas away from windows and homes to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

ACROSS NEW JERSEY

State officials said they have more than 400 pieces of road equipment available to make the roads safe, even though fewer people are taking to the roads because of the coronavirus outbreak.

AccuWeather is saying the system could be the “most significant winter storm in several years,” one that could potentially become highly impactful and disruptive as the first round of coronavirus vaccines continue to be shipped around the country.

AccuWeather is warning of major disruptions to travel and even travel shutdowns, as well as shipping delays, school closings and power outages from this “blockbuster storm,” – even though a number of New Jersey school districts have said they’ll opt to go remote instead of closing.

The latest weather forecast includes:

  • Wednesday night- Rain and snow, then rain after midnight. The rain, snow, and sleet could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Windy, with an east wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.
  • Thursday – Snow likely, mainly before 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a north wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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