Jefferson Suffers Power Outages, But Does OK In Storm

While the winds still howled and a blizzard warning remained in effect on Monday morning after the first winter storm of the 2010-2011 season, the sun was shining in Jefferson Township, and officials said that the township escaped with few problems.

"We had a few ambulance calls during the night, but that was it," said Ed Mangold, director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). 

The only real problem the township faced was power outages to approximately 5,000 people in the Oak Ridge section.

"JCP&L has been working on the problem since Sunday night," Mangold said. "They've been able to restore power to about 4,000 customers, but are still working on several hundred homes. 

"They are in storm mode right now," Mangold said. "They fix what they can get to right away, and then will come back later to fix the rest. But they have crews out all over Milton."

Mangold added that the DPW was out all of Sunday night working to keep the roads clear.

"As of Monday morning, all the major roads were open," Mangold said. "The DPW has been working on the side roads."

New Jersey has been under a state of emergency since Sunday. Throughout the state, authorities are urging residents to continue to stay off the roads if possible. State, county and municipal police have been ordered to tow abandoned or disabled vehicles on all state roadways until noon on Dec. 27, Morris County's OEM said Sunday.

 Also, under a law that went into effect in October, New Jersey drivers now face fines for simply failing to clean snow and ice off their cars. In the past, drivers would only have been fined if snow and ice fell off their vehicle and caused damage or injury. But under the new law, motorists will be expected to clean snow and ice off before hitting the road or face a fine of $25 to $75. The fines for causing damage or injury range from $200 to $1,000, or $500 to $1,500 for commercial drivers.