With meteorologists warning that the region could face its most significant winter storm in years, Lakewood officials and emergency response leaders convened Thursday afternoon at the Lakewood Municipal Building to coordinate preparations for what is expected to be a high-impact weather event.
The storm is forecast to arrive late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, with the potential for snow accumulations well in excess of one foot. Officials also warned that dangerous icy conditions could persist through Monday evening or longer, increasing the risk of hazardous travel, power outages and emergency service disruptions.
The coordination meeting was led by Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller; Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein; Township Manager Pat Donnelly; Police Chief Greg Meyer; EMS Chief Crystal Van de Zilver; and Department of Public Works Director Phil Roux. They were joined by representatives from the Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood Fire Department, Lakewood First Aid, the Lakewood Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Lakewood Shomrim, Chaveirim of Central Jersey, Hatzolah of Central Jersey, the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA), and other key agencies.
Officials reviewed plans for road pre-treatment, large-scale snow removal operations, and coordinated emergency response protocols to ensure rapid response during the height of the storm.
Township leaders emphasized that resident cooperation will be critical to keeping roads clear and allowing emergency and public works crews to operate safely and effectively.
Beginning late Saturday evening, officials are urging residents to stay off the roads whenever possible, noting that outdoor conditions can deteriorate rapidly and make both walking and driving extremely dangerous.
Residents are also being asked to keep vehicles off roadways to allow plow and emergency crews full access. Officials said vehicles may be parked in garages, driveways, or on grassy areas for the duration of the storm, and that no summonses will be issued for such parking during the weather event.
If parking off the street is not feasible, officials requested that vehicles be parked on only one side of the road to improve access and maneuverability for snow-clearing equipment.