Frozen ice extended more than 100 yards into the Delaware River on the Palmyra waterfront after the Jan. Winter Storm Fern and nine straight days of below freezing temperatures.
As residents scrambled to get food and supplies for the much-anticipated storm dubbed Fern, the hardest thing to find was rock salt.
Area stores sold out, with one shipment arriving at Home Depot on the morning of Jan. 23. The 50-pound bags were quickly scooped up. Businesses and stores soon announced they would close on Sunday the 25th, the day the snow arrived. New Jersey and many other states declared a state of emergency, urging residents to stay home.
The sideways blast started at 7:25 a.m. Camden County issued an emergency alert.
“We have not seen a snowstorm of this caliber in several years, and we are expecting hazardous road conditions across Camden County,” warned Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Department of Public Safety. “It’s crucial that everyone stay off the roads for the duration of this storm unless travel is absolutely essential.”
By 9 a.m., between 1 to 2 inches per hour had already fallen. Afternoon precipitation changed to sleet and frozen rain, creating an igloo-like ice pack that was still hardened the following week because of freezing temperatures.
Overall most towns in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties received 8 to 9-plus inches of snow and most area schools were closed on Monday, the 26th. Many had a delayed opening the following day.
Palmyra schools were open on Tuesday.
“Thanks to our amazing buildings and grounds teams for their hard work clearing space for all of us to be in school Tuesday,” district officials said in a Facebook post. “Anyone that attempted shoveling at their own home knows the heavy lift this snowstorm created.
“We know it is part of their job, but storms like this are over and above their standard of care,” the statement added. “We appreciate their hours of shoveling, ploughing, scraping and salting. We are Palmyra proud of how well our buildings were prepared for a safe return to school.”
Palmyra schools operated on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, Jan. 27, and the Palmyra Day Care at Charles Street and Delaware Avenue was open at 9 a.m.
South Jersey homeowners struggled all week to shovel sidewalks and get cars on the road amidst snow and ice that failed to melt. High temperatures were in the low 20-degree range through Thursday, and dropped into the teens as the Polar Vortex finished off the big chill on Friday and Saturday.
As of deadline, a Nor-easter was expected to bring more snow to the coast of New Jersey on Sunday, Feb. 1, and the temperature was expected to rise to a balmy 35 degrees – above freezing – the next day.
In Gloucester County, Commissioner Matt Weng had the opportunity to ride with one of the county’s storm crews to see road conditions and challenges first hand. He thanked everyone behind the scenes, including public works, the Office of Emergency Management, first responders and dispatchers.
“Your hard work and dedication to our residents does not go unnoticed,” he posted on Facebook.
Young noted that residents could avoid frozen pipes during freezing temperatures by allowing a small trickle of water to run from the faucets, and by wrapping insulated exposed pipes. He advised people to keep pets indoors as much as possible, with clean, unfrozen drinking water.
Meanwhile, the Camden County Department of Public Safety recalibrated the senior shoveling program service to assist the most vulnerable residents. Because of a substantial increase in demand and limited resources, the department shifted focus to create access to homes of those 65 and up who needed dialysis, chemotherapy or other medical treatment that required them to leave home. Pathways were also created for those who needed at-home treatment.
“Based on the surge of phone calls, we are taking prudent steps to help the residents who are most in need of this service that we offer in coordination with the Camden County Department of Corrections,” explained Vincent Jackson, director of the Department of Public Safety. “It’s imperative for us to reach the most vulnerable, and the way the program is set up currently will not allow us to do that.
“We are still asking our residents to explore alternate options of snow removal,” he added, “like asking a neighbor or family member for help. This program is not meant to replace normal means of snow clearing, and should be treated as a last resort.”
The senior snow removal hotline is open for 24 hours following a minimum of 4 inches of accumulation. To be added to the list, residents can call (856) 783-4808, ext. 5035, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
