(Lindenwold, NJ) – The Camden County Department of Public Works, Office of Emergency Management and Department of Public Safety are closely monitoring the possibility of slow-moving storms resulting in potential flash floods this evening. The most recent weather forecast obtained by DPW calls for a cluster of storms to impact the area between 5p.m. and 8 p.m.
“After the damaging storms and flooding that we experienced last month, we want to ensure that residents are prepared and know what to do in the event that flood waters suddenly submerge the roadway,” said Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Department of Public Safety. “Never drive your vehicle into areas where water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear and just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road. In short: turn around, don’t drown.”
Isolated and pop-up storms are forecasted to appear intermittently throughout the afternoon, with the bulk of activity having occurred between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. A front will significantly ramp up storm coverage, intensity, and duration particularly from 5 p.m. onward. Storms between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. will bring with them the threat of damaging wind gusts between 50 and 60 miles per hour and bring greater than normal risk for areas of roadway flooding, centering around the evening commute.
Residents are encouraged to stay off the roads and inside, or if need be, proceed with significant caution and avoid low-lying areas where flooding is evident, and avoid any downed power lines. At the public works complex in Lindenwold, a fleet of vehicles stand ready to keep Camden County’s 1,400 lane miles of roadways passable.
“Our crews are prepared to keep the county’s roadways passable, but the best way to protect yourself is to stay off the road unless you absolutely cannot avoid it,” Young said. “In the event of power outages in or around your neighborhood, be sure to check on elderly neighbors to make sure that they have the supplies they need until power is restored.”
In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, please remember to immediately call your utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore your power. This storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures. Below are numbers and contact info for the two power providers in Camden County:
- PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
- PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
- Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476
- Atlantic City Electric website: http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/
- South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
- South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/
As always, please use 911 for emergencies only. If you see a problem on a county road, please call our 24-hour hotline at(856) 566-2980 to report it to DPW.