Winter weather advisories have been issued for most of the state as residents brace for the second storm this week. The National Weather Service is predicting significant snowfalls on Friday, with some parts of New Jersey set to receive up to 6 inches of snow. The snowfall is expected to hit hardest in the southern and central parts of the state, especially western areas closest to Pennsylvania.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday reminded residents that New Jersey is still under the state of emergency declared for last week’s major rainstorm.
A “Code Blue” alert has been activated for all 21 counties as temperatures plunge below freezing. The advisory — activated statewide at 32 degrees Fahrenheit — has enabled shelters and warming centers to open across the state. But Ocean County, one of the only areas in New Jersey without a full-time shelter, is dealing with limited access to help those in need.
“We’ve had to turn away 10 people and that’s tough because these are people that need help,” said Kevin McKenna, a lead overnight facilitator at Just Believe Inc., a nonprofit in Toms River that sets up a temporary homeless shelter between November and March. In Toms River, the town council approved Code Blue activation at 35 degrees.
“People are coming in and they’ve been out in the woods, and on the street,” McKenna said.
