Storm Updates: Library Closed, Bus Service Restored
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A powerful winter storm moved into the region Friday, making for dangerous driving and prompting officials to urge residents to stay indoors. Scroll below for the latest storm-related Teaneck news.
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Check out reader-submitted snow photos here
Saturday Updates:
FINAL UPDATE 9 p.m.: The National Weather Service reports 10.4 inches of snow in Bergenfield, with no Teaneck-specific total available. A full list of area snowfall totals is available here.
Officials said the storm led to a series of accidents, but no major incidents.
UPDATE 9 a.m.: The Teaneck Public Library will be closed Saturday, according to Township Manager William Broughton.
There were no power outages or trees down in Teaneck early Saturday, Broughton reported. Statewide, PSE&G said only 16 customers were without service.
NJ Transit also announced bus service had been restored in the region. More information is available at njtransit.com.
Friday Updates:
UPDATE 9:10 p.m.: Snow is expected to keep falling overnight as high winds move into the area, according to the National Weather Service. Overnight snow accumulation of five to nine inches is possible. Wind gusts up to 37 mph were forecasted into Saturday.
PSE&G had no reported power outages in Teaneck late Friday night and less than 500 customers without service in Bergen County.
The township announced all programs at the Rodda Center were canceled for Saturday.
On the lighter side, Teaneck residents have been sharing their favorite storm photos here.
UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: NJ Transit has announced bus service in the area will shut down at 8 p.m. Friday. Click for full details.
UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: Officials could open the Richard Rodda Community Center as a warming station if the town is hit with widespread power outages, Township Manger William Broughton said Friday.
Broughton stressed the center was ready, but a decision to open the facility would depend on conditions in town. Generators are available for the community center and town hall.
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan said the county was ready to open shelters, but so far has not received any requests from municipal officials.
"If we have a need, we will open them," she said in a briefing.
Township public works crews salted roadways earlier, but are now focused on plowing streets, the town manager said. At least 30 DPW trucks were clearing snow Friday afternoon and crews were set to work through the night.
The worst of the storm is expected to hit Friday evening, according to Broughton and National Weather Service reports.
Teaneck Police reported a surge in crashes and Broughton urged residents to stay off the roadways.
Meter restrictions are town parking lots have been lifted until 12:01 a.m. Monday. Residents needing non-emergency information can call township police 24 hours a day at 201-837-2600.
Saturday programs at the Rodda Center have all been canceled.
UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: Teaneck authorities were already dealing with multiple crashes as roads became slick Friday. Earlier today, two people were treated in a multi-car crash on Queen Anne Road.
A vehicle went off the road on Degraw Avenue Friday afternoon. One person was treated for non-life-threatening injuries in the single-car crash.
All FDU New Jersey campuses will be closed Saturday because of the storm, the University announced. Teaneck schools also let out early.
Teaneck's snow parking restrictions were in effect.
Residents were asked to report power outages to PSE&G at 800-436-7734.
The brunt of the storm is expected to hit Friday evening, according to a National Weather Service blizzard warning.
Bergen County Police Chief Brian Higgins said motorists should stay off the roads as conditions were expected to worsen in the evening.
“With the temperature dropping it will be a sheet of ice under the snow,” the chief said in a briefing.
Readers reported long lines at some local gas stations and at Stop and Shop.
John Santaella
2:35 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
But I have a 4 wheel drive SUV. I can drive anywhere at any speed. That seems to be the attitude of many drivers out there. People have no idea what driving for the conditions of the road and weather mean.
Jem Maloney
3:42 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
That TVAC member is really handsome.
Art Vatsky
4:28 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Can you sleep and eat at a warming center? If you have to go home to a cold dark house, it would seem best to stay at the warming center but then it would be called a shelter. Does Teaneck have a shelter? We might need it tomorrow.
Diane Schwarz
5:51 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
In the last storm, families went to the warming center at BF. No food was provided and the families didn't need any. I went over with food I'd cooked from my defrosting freezer and nothing was needed! They came for the warmth and light,, not for food!
Gail Abramson
6:39 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Why do we have to worry about this? There have been many snowstorms & I don't remember losing power. Hurricanes yes, snow no. What's with PSEG? This is so Third World.
Teaneck_Resident
7:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
This is a snow storm with 50 mph gusts which means trees and tree limbs will be falling on power lines.
zizi
8:57 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Teaneck has these huge trees planted on tiny spaces.... they are a danger to life and property of towners.... It is so third world that the town has allowed such trees on its property.
We should auction off these trees to the highest biddder and use the money to offset tax increases for the coming years.
Bean
9:32 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Downed lines = furnaces going cold. i think its pathetic that many of these warming centers do not have folding cots and blankets; since T-neck is such an affluent community. Bring your own sleeping bag?--that's a joke!
Art Vatsky
11:11 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Anyone know officially who is Teaneck's Emergency Management Coordinator? It could be the Manager but it is not listed on the Township directory. Emergencies don't always happen with advance notice as they have with the blizzard. The Coordinator should be close by to respond and be on scene within minutes. Our Manager has chosen to live about 65 miles away from Teaneck so a local person should be the Coordinator. Who is it?
JamesTS
11:19 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Art: no offense but do you really have any what you are talking about? the emergency manager does not need to "respond" "within minutes" to everythign... we have police and fire to do that for "front line" responses. The Emergency Manager plans and oversees incidents. Im not passing any judgment on how the town is handling things but i dont think you really know anything more then the town's professional staff... I have seen no evidence that the town emergency responders are not able to handle various situations at hand.
Please stop bringing up where people live-- it being the manager or any other town employees. Our town employees can legally live anywhere in the state therefor they should not be criticized for doing so. AS you can see from this article, the manager was quoted by Patch so hes obviously involved in whats going on.
zizi
8:57 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
JamesTS: Tax payers are paying for town managers commute and it is perfectly ok to use this or any other forum to point out this fact. We need to take this giveaway away from all employees... no question asked.
If anyone can not do your job or come to their job than they should be fired. Why should tax payers have to pay for anyone's commute. This whole thing is absurd.
Please stop tellign thers what they can or can not talk about. This is a public forum..... ok...
Art Vatsky
8:57 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
James: Other towns have a listed, identified Emergency Response Manager. Teaneck doesn't.
I am not happy about anyone consuming 7 gallons a day for their personal daily commute especially when you and I - not the commuter - are paying for it. I'd complain less if it wasn't Teaneck tax dollars being involved.
As for "Our town employees can legally live anywhere in the state" are you sure employees can't live in other states? The limit, I think, is what the Council will accept.
Finally, I don't think an Emergency Response Coordinator - whoever it is - can do the job that well if they can't get to town during an emergency.
Tom Abbott
3:47 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Art,
I don't understand the fuss. The Office of Emergency Management Coordinator for Teaneck is clearly available via the Teaneck website. Simply go to the website and select "Important Links". On the "Important Links" page pick "Bergen County Office of Emergency Management". From there it's simply a matter of selecting "Towns OEM". On the "Municpal OEM" page one simply has to scroll down to Teaneck to see that Chief Robert Montgomery is Teaneck's Emergency Management Coordinator. I believe he still lives in Teaneck.
If you need more information simply click on the "Teaneck" link and it will bring you back to the Teaneck website where you can repeat the process until you're convinced.
Tee Smyth
8:57 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Where's the fire? Worst snow storm that I can recall was in 1996, and I maintained power throughout. I was out yesterday until 9 PM and seriously wondered what the fuss was about. We live in the Northeast. Snow happens.
Warming centers for this?? Really??
John Santaella
11:15 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
This was not a blizzard. Blizzards are characterized by high winds and we had no winds. The most snow I saw was the Winter of '62-'63. I was in Maine at the time and snow flurries were forecast. When the flurries were over there was 58 inches of snow on the ground and that was not a blizzard either.
Rich Schneider
8:50 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Please note that Teaneck's PVISL soccer at the Rodda Center will be played as scheduled Saturday night. Township sponsored rec programs were postponed, not all events at the Rodda Center.
chocoholic
8:50 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
anyone know how many inches teaneck had???
John Santaella
10:41 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
I believe we got between 11 and 12 inches of snow. No big deal. We've had more snow in the past. Suffolk County got about 30 inches.
John Santaella
10:44 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
PS; I want to thank the Teaneck DPW for a good job in clearing our streets.