New Jersey declares state of emergency and road restrictions due to storm

New York.- New Jersey Governor, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, declared a state of emergency this Friday due to the passage of the first winter storm this weekend, which will leave freezing temperatures. “I want to make it clear that this is not a run-of-the-mill storm,” said Sherrill, who recalled that New Jersey hasn’t faced a similar storm in a decade and it may leave up to 18 inches of snow (45.7 cm) in some areas. The state of emergency comes into effect in the 21 counties of the territory at five o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, local time. Sherrill, on her fourth day as governor, also announced at a press conference with other officials from her new administration restrictions on the circulation of commercial vehicles on interstate highways.

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The neighboring state of New York also announced a state of emergency today, and there are already at least 15 jurisdictions that have taken that step before the storm, which allows them to expedite the mobilization of resources and prepare for the winter phenomenon.

“Significant accumulation of snow and ice, along with freezing conditions, can create slippery and dangerous situations on affected roads, particularly during periods of more intense precipitation,” warns Sherrill’s executive order.

Nearly 230 million people in almost 50 states will be exposed to the effects of the storm, which formed in the Rocky Mountains and is moving through the South and Midwest of the country; it is expected to reach the East Coast between Saturday and Sunday and is threatening to cause power outages as well as falling trees, flight cancellations and delays, dangerous roads and school closures.