NJ Gov. Murphy Declares State Of Emergency For Snowstorm (UPDATE)

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for the winter storm that hit New Jersey on Sunday and Monday, allowing for the extension of state resources into communities directly impacted by the ice and snow. Slippery roads were already causing problems in New Jersey (see road conditions below).

More than 12,000 were without power (see list of towns below).

All 21 counties were impacted. Murphy said the state of emergency went into effect at 3 p.m. on Sunday and that salt spreaders and plows would be deployed throughout the state.

A commercial vehicle ban went into effect along all interstate highways – not along the Garden State Park, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway. It was lifted at 6 a.m.

Nearly 8 inches fell in spots in New Jersey. Read more: New Jersey Snow Totals, Town-By-Town, On Sunday And Monday

More than 400 schools closed or delayed openings. Read more: New Jersey School Closings/Delays List For Monday

Murphy said the snow would be "weat and heavy" and that power outages are possible. "And, please God, don't go near any power lines," he said.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for 18 New Jersey counties, with 5 to 8 inches expected to fall beginning Sunday afternoon and lasting until 7 a.m. on Monday. Read more: Winter Storm Warning In 18 NJ Counties: Here's What To Expect

The commercial vehicle travel restriction applies to:

• All tractor-trailers
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

Here are the power outages:

1. BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP 2,101
2. NORTH BRUNSWICK TWP 1,622
3. EWING TWP 1,256
4. BERNARDS TOWNSHIP 731
5. SAYREVILLE BOROUGH 714
6. FRANKLIN TWP 713
7. TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP 587
8. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 549
9. ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP 464
10. MOUNTAIN LAKES BOROUGH 305
11. CLINTON TOWNSHIP 293
12. READINGTON TOWNSHIP 284
13. UNION TOWNSHIP 251
14. LEBANON TOWNSHIP 207
15. PARSIPPANY TROY HILLS TOWNSHIP 206
16. MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP 183
17. NORTH BERGEN TWP 179
18. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 165
19. GLEN GARDNER BOROUGH 136
20. HOLLAND TOWNSHIP 122
21. BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP 118
22. RARITAN TOWNSHIP 96
23. MILFORD BOROUGH 78
24. HOPEWELL TWP 78
25. MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP 74
26. FAR HILLS BOROUGH 73
27. SUMMIT CITY 72
28. NEWARK CITY 69
29. BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP 68
30. RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE 65
31. LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP 63
32. EAST BRUNSWICK TWP 62
33. BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP 57
34. BRIDGEWATER TWP 57
35. EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP 49
36. IRVINGTON TWP 45
37. KINGWOOD TOWNSHIP 41
38. BERNARDSVILLE BOROUGH 40
39. WANTAGE TOWNSHIP 40
40. NEW PROVIDENCE BOROUGH 40
41. WARREN TOWNSHIP 39
42. HOPE TOWNSHIP 39
43. INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP 37
44. POHATCONG TOWNSHIP 36
45. MAPLEWOOD TWP 36
46. FANWOOD BORO 33
47. BLOOMSBURY BOROUGH 29
48. CHATHAM TOWNSHIP 29
49. RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP 27
50. TENAFLY BORO 24
51. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 21
52. WHITE TOWNSHIP 21
53. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP 19
54. FAIRFIELD TWP 18
55. LIVINGSTON TWP 18
56. MORRISTOWN TOWN 17
57. CLINTON TOWN 16
58. FRELINGHUYSEN TOWNSHIP 14
59. CLIFTON CITY 14
60. HANOVER TOWNSHIP 13
61. WESTWOOD BORO 13
62. BOONTON TOWN 12
63. PARAMUS BORO 11
64. ANDOVER TOWNSHIP 9
65. HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP 7
66. BOONTON TOWNSHIP 7
67. WAYNE TOWNSHIP 7
68. HACKETTSTOWN TOWN 7
69. ENGLEWOOD CITY 7
70. LINCOLN PARK BOROUGH 6
71. FLEMINGTON BOROUGH 5
72. MORRIS TOWNSHIP 5

Total 12,949

Here were the road conditions at 6 a.m.:

• NJ 71: Flooding on NJ 71 in both directions at Brighton Av in Deal. All lanes closed 5-10 minute delay, use caution.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pennsville Twp to North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville 45 miles per hour, for Salting operations.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Speed restriction on the New Jersey Turnpike in both directions from North of Interchange 7A - I-195 in Robbinsville to George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee 35 miles per hour due to roadway conditions, for plowing and salting operations.
• Walt Whitman Bridge: Weather related issues on the Walt Whitman Bridge in both directions between New Jersey Side in Gloucester City and Pennsylvania Side in Philadelphia Speed limits on all bridges are set to 25mph until further notice. Roads are being salted for ice.
• Betsy Ross Bridge: Weather related issues on the Betsy Ross Bridge in both directions between New Jersey Side in Pennsauken Twp and Pennsylvania Side in Philadelphia Speed limits on all bridges are set to 25mph until further notice. Roads are being salted for ice.
• Commodore Barry BridgeL Weather issues related on the Commodore Barry Bridge in both directions between New Jersey Side and Pennsylvania Side in Logan Twp Speed limits on all bridges are set to 25mph until further notice. Roads are being salted for ice.
• Ben Franklin Bridge: Weather related issues on the Ben Franklin Bridge in both directions between New Jersey Side in Camden and Pennsylvania Side in Philadelphia Speed limits on all bridges are set to 25mph until further notice. Roads are being salted for ice.
• Ben Franklin Bridge: Weather related issues on the Ben Franklin Bridge between New Jersey Side in Camden and Pennsylvania Side in Philadelphia NORTH SIDE FOOTWALK IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. NORTH SIDE FOOTWALK IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
• Garden State Parkway: Speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Exit 125 - NJ 35 in Sayreville to New York State Line in Montvale 35 miles per hour due to roadway conditions, PLOWING AND SALTING TEAM OPERATIONS.
• Garden State Parkway: Speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from North of Exit 77 - Berkeley in Beachwood to North of Exit 105 - NJ 36 in Tinton Falls 45 miles per hour due to roadway conditions, and Salting operations.
• Garden State Parkway: Speed restrictionon the Garden State Parkway in both directions from Exit 102 - Asbury Av in Tinton Falls to Exit 125 - NJ 35 in Sayreville 45 mph for salting operations.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Accident on the New Jersey Turnpike inner roadway northbound South of Interchange 9 - NJ 18 in East Brunswick Twp. Left lane blocked.
• Garden State Parkway: Vehicle off the roadway on the Garden State Parkway northbound South of Exit 166 - Highland Ave in Paramus. Right lane and shoulder closed.
• Garden State Parkway: Accident on the Garden State Parkway southbound South of Exit 143C - NJ 124 in Irvington Twp. Right shoulder.
• Washington Road: Downed wires on Washington Road in both directions between Raritan Street and Johnson Lane in Sayreville. All lanes closed until further notice.
• US 206: Downed pole and a Vehicle fire on US 206 in both directions South of CR 517 in Andover Twp. All lanes closed use caution.
• Atlantic City Expressway: Speed restriction on the Atlantic City Expressway in both directions from Atlantic City Convention Center/Eastern Terminus in Atlantic City to East of Western Terminus - NJ 42 in Washington Twp SPEED LIMIT REDUCED TO 35 MPH, MOVE OVER FOR HIGHWAY WORKERS.
• I-78: Debris spill on I-78 local lanes eastbound at Exit 50 - CR 630/Vaux Hall Rd in Union Twp. Left lane closed use caution.
• I-295: Vehicle spun out on I-295 southbound south of Exit 60 - I-195/NJ 129 in Hamilton Twp. Left shoulder closed use caution.
• I-295: Vehicle off the roadway on I-295 northbound North of Exit 32 - CR 561/Haddonfield Berlin Rd in Cherry Hill Twp. Left shoulder closed use caution.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Disabled vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound South of Interchange 5 - CR 541 in Westampton Twp. Right lane blocked.
• Garden State Parkway: Vehicle off the roadway on the Garden State Parkway northbound South of Exit 89A - NJ 70 East in Toms River Twp. Right shoulder.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Accident on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound South of Interchange 5 - CR 541 in Westampton Twp. Left shoulder blocked.
• US 322: Accident with injuries on US 322 eastbound between Corkery Ln and CR 538/Coles Mill Rd in Monroe Twp. All lanes closed and detoured use caution.
• NJ 70: Accident on NJ 70 eastbound West of NJ 41/CR 154 in Cherry Hill Twp. Left lane closed use caution.
• I-295: Vehicle off the roadway on I-295 northbound North of Exit 34 - NJ 70 in Mount Laurel Twp. 1 lane may be closed use caution.
• I-295: Vehicle off the roadway on I-295 northbound Exit 40 - NJ 38 in Mount Laurel Twp. 1 lane may be closed use caution.
• I-295: Accident on I-295 northbound North of Exit 57 - US 130 in Hamilton Twp. Left lane closed no reported delays, use caution.
• I-295: Accident on I-295 northbound ramp to Exit 23 - US 130 in West Deptford Twp. 1 lane closed use caution.
• George Washington Bridge: Disabled vehicle on the George Washington Bridge eastbound New York Side/Upper Level in Manhattan. Center lane blocked.
• I-295: Vehicle off the roadway on I-295 southbound South of Exit 40 - NJ 38 in Mount Laurel Twp. Right lane and shoulder closed use caution.
• I-295: Vehicle off the roadway on I-295 northbound North of Exit 57 - US 130 in Bordentown Twp. Left lane closed use caution.
• Atlantic City Expressway: Speed restriction on the Atlantic City Expressway in both directions from Atlantic City Convention Center/Eastern Terminus in Atlantic City to East of Western Terminus - NJ 42 in Washington Twp SPEED LIMIT REDUCED TO 35 MPH, MOVE OVER FOR HIGHWAY WORKERS.

Trucks already in New Jersey were encouraged to use truck stops or rest areas during the restriction. In order for road crews to effectively plow, drivers should not park on shoulders.

Residents and motorists were told to avoid driving unless you are an essential employee needed for emergency response, state officials said. If you do not have to be on the roads during the storm, please stay home, state officials said.

If you must go out, drive slowly, fill your gas tank, charge your phone, pack blankets, water and non-perishable food items, they said.

State officials said they weren't sure yet if the state of emergency will lead to a delay in the opening of state offices on Monday.

"We will be monitoring that through the day and evening," Murphy said.

Col. Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police said his division has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to monitor the winter storm conditions expected to last through the night.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management has been in contact with all 21 county emergency management offices, and members of the Emergency Response Bureau are working with their counties to address any storm-related needs.

State emergency management partners have been notified and will continue to coordinate with NJOEM on any traffic and power concerns, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation and its contractors activated this morning with up to 2,500 plows and spreaders available to keep State highways clear and safe for motorists.

“As the winter storm continues throughout thesState, our top priority is the safety of our residents” said Murphy. “We have deployed available resources to keep the roads clean and urge people to use extreme caution when traveling.”

"Troopers are ready to assist residents and commuters across the state both on and off of the highways throughout today and into tonight," said Callahan. "We always encourage you to prepare for winter weather. Please use caution when traveling and prepare an emergency kit for use at home and for your vehicle.”

Murphy also said the state will be looking for drivers who break the law – such as not cleaning off their cars – in a way that creates travel hazards.

"We're going to make it very painful for people who violate these restrictions," he said.

Murphy, who has taken criticism for how he handled a surprise November storm, said he's confident that the state is ready this time.

"We gotta play the game. We gotta see how this storm unfolds," he said.

Murphy also has been quick to declare states of emergency for snowfalls since the November storm, and he's gotten criticism for that, too.

"We take it very seriously," Murphy said. "Moving people safely and securely is job one. We are going to move toward overpreparedness."

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.