Code Blue In Haddonfield, Haddon As Forecast Worsens

A Code Blue Weather Alert will be in effect for Camden County Monday night as the weather forecast becomes increasingly more grim, officials announced. The Health Officer issued the Code Blue Alert for Camden County effective from 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 until 7 a.m. on Feb. 12.

New Jersey was getting a dose of the worst winter weather it's had in weeks on Monday, bringing 3 inches of snow in spots before another system makes the state a slippery mess. A new system is supposed to arrive by Monday evening that could bring snow and ice and cause power outages and messy roads. Read more here: Snow Estimates Increase As Winter Weather Advisories Expand In New Jersey.

“We are expecting snow, sleet and freezing rain overnight as the wintery weather continues into tomorrow. During these extreme conditions, we need everyone to be sheltered and protected from the elements,” Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, said. “If you must leave the house, please dress yourself and your children in warm clothing, hats and gloves. Also, please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors, and bring your pets indoors.”

Over the course of this 48-hour winter weather event, the Camden County Department of Public Works will be monitoring the ever-changing conditions to ensure snow and ice don’t build up on any of roads throughout the county, officials said.

“Our crews have been out since midnight keeping traffic moving for the morning commute and are now turning their attention to the next round of winter weather,” Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works. “We are monitoring the track of the storm as we prepare for another round of snow overnight that will mix with sleet and freezing rain towards daybreak.”

More than 90 pieces of equipment and 100 employees have been deployed from the Public Works complex in Lindenwold to Camden County’s 12 winter maintenance districts. The county’s response plan calls for crews to be dispatched only to the zones where they are needed.

“If you don’t have to travel, please stay off the roads to give our crews the ability to effectively do their job. Anyone on the roadways should be prepared to encounter slick road conditions. Always leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our plowing operations,” Shin Angulo said. “Remember that it is illegal in New Jersey to plow or shovel snow from private property into roadways.”

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.

"During these extreme weather conditions, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone," Rodriguez said. "It is important that the most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity."

The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans.

Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather. Anyone seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality.

In Haddonfield, there is a warming center at the Mabel Kay House, 24 Walnut Street. It is opened 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the phone number is 856-354-8789.

In Haddon Township, there are two warming centers:

• Father & Son Hall: Ormond Avenue. Tel: 856-547-2539 Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

• Haddon Township County Library: 15 McArthur Boulevard. Tel: 856-854-2752 Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

The after hours Code Blue Emergency Hotline phone number is 833-254-9801. Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.

In case of a power outage please report it directly to the appropriate utility provider list below:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSE&G website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476; http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/

As always, use 911 for emergencies only. Anyone who sees a problem on a county road should call the county's 24-hour hotline at 856-566-2980 to report it to DPW.

With more than 75 percent of households in Camden County owning a cat or a dog Rodriguez wants to ensure that all pets are safe during these extreme temperatures as well. Here are some tips for keeping pets safe and warm:

• When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If your pet must stay outside, provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground, with the opening facing away from the wind and covered with a burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around, but small enough to retain its body heat.
• If your pet is outdoors for extended periods when temperatures are below freezing (32 degrees), be alert for signs of distress from the cold. Just like in people, shivering is a sign that the body temperature is dropping. If you see your pet shivering, it is probably time to bring it inside. Remember, your pet's body temperature is between 101-102 degrees and its body temperature lowers faster in cold weather.
• A very young, very old pet or a pet with a health problem is more vulnerable to cold.
• An animal with thick fur can tolerate cold longer than a small animal and one with short hair.
• Don't leave your pet in an unheated vehicle for extended periods of time.
• Make sure your pet has clean unfrozen drinking water. Do not let your pet drink from puddles where there may be deadly antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.
• A pet can pick up rock salt, ice and other melting chemicals in their foot pads. This can harm your pet. Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. Moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws. Wipe your pet's feet with a damp cloth when it comes inside to protect its pads from damage. If this is a problem for your pet, there are boots available in all sizes. Your dog can get used to wearing the boots indoors for short periods of time. Not all dogs take to them.
• If there are outside cats in the neighborhood, knock on the hood of your vehicle and look under it before starting your engine and driving off. Cats sometimes curl up next to or under warm engines when they are left out in the cold.
• Antifreeze has an attractive scent and taste for animals and is extremely poisonous! Be especially vigilant about the ingestion of antifreeze. The first sign of antifreeze poisoning is a pet that appears drunk. Immediately get your pet to the vet if you suspect it has ingested antifreeze as it can be fatal within four to eight hours of ingestion.

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