CUMBERLAND CO. GEARS UP FOR SECOND MAJOR STORM IN LESS THAN A WEEK
Last Updated - 2/9/10 11:23 pm
VINELAND- Road crews around South Jersey haven't been able to catch a break in fighting the slippery roads, jumping from one storm to the next. While the weekend blizzard depleted supplies, officials in Cumberland County received some much needed deliveries to get them through the storm.
Like road crews around South Jersey, the Cumberland County Department of Public Works has had an extremely busy winter season.
And crews haven't been able to take a rest since the weekend blizzard dumped 20 to 24 inches across the county because while they're still cleaning up, they're gearing up for the second major snowstorm in less than a week that they say could break records. "I don't think there has ever been a back to back storm in the county's history that we're dealing with right now," said Don Olbrich, Cumberland County’s Director of Public Works.
"Record books are saying if we do get this storm it will be a record breaker...all time record breaker...which is unbelievable," said county Freeholder and Chairman of the Cumberland County Department of Public Works, Nelson Thompson.
All this action is sending them into overdrive. They ordered in an additional 3 thousand tons of salt that's being delivered through the storm to battle the anticipated 15 plus inches. Olbrich explained, "We'll begin in our salting operation first and continue with plowing operation after that."
And they made sure all 25 trucks have been repaired so they can hit the county's 552 miles of roadways. "They haven't had a rest. I mean one storm after another... been in shops being worked on one after the other...our guys are busy."
Since December, the snow has cost the county well over $700 thousand dollars and this storm could be the one that breaks the bank.
But luckily, Thompson says help from FEMA is on the way. "Finances can be crippling. We found out we will be getting some funding which is always a good thing and tax payers don't have to bear that burden."
Strong winds tomorrow will likely cause the snow to blow and drift, causing dangerous driving conditions. But officials say they are ready for whatever mother nature throws their way. "We have a plan, our guys have sections they know they need to cover and we'll be ready."