Full Notification

Please follow us on Facebook and the Bridgewater Police Emergency Alert Page (https://bridgewaterpd.com/news-press-releases/emergency-alert/).

Weather Alert: Heavy mixed precipitation possible, mainly as snow though some sleet and light freezing rain is possible Tuesday night. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches, with localized amounts up to 12 inches, and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch are possible.

Plan on difficult travel conditions, including during the evening commute on Wednesday. Significant reductions in visibility are possible. Roads in the hilly areas may become impassable if 1 to 3 inch per hour snowfall rates
develop as expected Wednesday afternoon. Power outages are possible. Northeast to north winds should gust 20 to 30 mph at times.

Snow Emergency Routes: All vehicles must be removed from designated snow emergency routes once the roadway has become snow covered. Violators are subject to ticket and tow at the owners expense. For more information and to see which streets are snow emergency routes, click http://bridgewaterpd.com/divisions/traffic-safety-unit/snow-emergency-routes/.

Do not drive around road closed signs or barricades!

Visit ready.nj.gov for information on how to build a kit, make a plan, and prepare your family for emergencies. Pets are family too! Remember to include them in your emergency plans. Visit animalemergency.nj.gov to find out more.

Important Tips to Remember
– If you are told to evacuate from a flooded area, GO!
– Secure loose items in your yard such as trash cans, children’s toys, and lawn ornaments.
– Move vehicles parked in flood prone areas to higher ground.
– Have cash on hand. If the power is out, so are the ATMs and credit card machines.
– Gas up your cars ahead of the storm. The gas pumps will not work without power or may be too damaged to open afterwards.
– Be sure to check on friends and neighbors who have access or functional needs.
– Be sure to have extra medications on hand and keep them in a water resistant container.
– Get all of your vital records and insurance papers together NOW. Keep them in a water resistant container. If you can, scan and email them to yourself so you have a copy of important numbers and policies, etc.
– Charge your cell phones and try not to use them if the power goes out. Texting uses less power than a cell call, so use text messaging when possible to save power.
– Discuss business continuity plans now. Whether you are the boss or report to a boss, discuss your game plan for continued business operations.
– NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
– Know where your utility shut off valves (gas, electric, water) are and how to use them.
– Know how to report a power outage to your utility company.

Drive Safely
Bridgewater Police will be out on patrol and ready to assist. If you must be on the roads, leave extra time to reach your destination and take it slow. NEVER walk, bike or drive through flooded areas. Water may be deeper than you think! For more information regarding driving times and current incidents visit: http://www.511nj.org/

During a Power Outage: Safety Tips
– Only use flashlights for emergency lighting, candles can cause fires.
– Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours.
– Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside.
– Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
– Never use your oven as a source of heat.
– If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm. Call NJ 2-1-1 for additional resources.
– Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices. Consider adding surge protectors.
– Only use generators away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage, or connect it to your home’s electrical system.

If you lose power, contact your local power provider and not Police Communications unless an emergency exists (ie. power line causing a fire):

PSE&G: 800-436-7734
JCP&L: 888-544-4877

Treat all downed power lines as if they are still live. Do not approach or touch any downed line. It is encouraged to charge all cell phones and have extra batteries in the event you lose power.