70 Salt Trucks, Plows Will Be Out Clearing Bergen County Roads

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Dozens of salt trucks and plows will be out clearing county roadways during what could be the worst nor'easter of the season.

Eleven inches of snow could cover North Jersey Wednesday in what may be the worst nor'easter of the winter season.

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco said about 70 county-owned and contracted salt trucks and plows will be out clearing county-owned streets and highways in response to the storm.

"We keep the major arteries open around the county, especially around emergency-response buildings and places like hospitals and on hills," Tedesco said.

Warming centers will be open throughout the county, including the homeless shelter at the Bergen County Human Services Center on South River Street in Hackensack.

The county's Office of Emergency Management will be open beginning at 11 p.m. tonight and stay manned for the duration of the storm. Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday. (See related: Gov. Murphy: NJ Will Evaluate Nor'easter Response In North Jersey)

Bergen and Passaic counties are forecast to get more snow than other parts of the state, but flooding could be worse elsewhere.

Tedesco said officials are looking at the possibility of closing all county-run schools. Colleges usually follow suit with what the county does regarding whether they will be open or not.

Municipalities may get extra help from the county this year plowing roads. Tedesco said about 66 of the county's 70 towns have shared service agreements with the county that allow them to request additional snow-clearing equipment or manpower.

"As long as we have the equipment or personnel to meet their requests, they'll get it," said Alicia D'Alessandro, a county spokesperson.

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