Residents having electrical, heating, and other housing emergency needs may go to the City's JFK Recreation Center at 211 West Kinney Street; Four members of a family were rushed to hospital after experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that the City of Newark has opened JFK Recreation Center for displaced families and engaged more than 75 trucks on the streets in response to the snow emergency that has crippled much of the East Coast from the Mid-Atlantic states to New England.
"Our directors have been working all morning at the Office of Emergency Management Command Center to respond to calls and concerns from our residents," said Mayor Baraka. "I'would like to emphasize that using an oven or stove to heat rooms in this weather can be hazardous. We had to rush four members of a family to the hospital for treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. If residents are experiencing electrical or heating outages or other housing-related emergencies, we have opened JFK Recreation Center to accommodate them. We are collaborating with the Newark Public Schools to also offer accommodations at the following locations: East Side High School (East Ward); West Side (West Ward); Barringer High School (North Ward); Weequahic High School and Shabazz High School (South Ward). We have also opened a warming center for the transitional and homeless populations at 224-238 Sussex Avenue in the Central Ward."
Newark Department of Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose added, "The Department of Public Safety has critical response teams available to respond to any critical situations which may arise as a result of the storm, such as a rescue or to simply to remove downed trees. Additional officers have been assigned to patrol the streets and to respond to weather-related emergencies, serve in traffic control functions or provide other assistance as needed. I especially wish to commend the Newark Fire Division for their quick reaction to the carbon monoxide poisoning incident earlier. Their actions resulted in saving these family members."
The city continues to clear the streets with more than 75 pieces of equipment currently engaged in both salting and plowing activities with additional equipment on standby for use as necessary. The goal is to have the vast majority of the primary streets plowed by 5:30 pm today.
City of Newark Warming Shelter, 224-238 Sussex Avenue, Central Ward
The City's warming shelter, which is operated by the Department of Health and Community Wellness and Emergency Housing Services, Inc., operates 24 hours a day. It is intended for Newark’s homeless population, including families, single men and women, homeless youth, and LGBTQ identifiers. The Center provides overnight shelter for 100 people and has been operating at capacity since it opened in December.
Snow Emergency Routes
Signs that read “No Parking When Road is Snow Covered” are posted on Snow Emergency Routes. Cars parked on those routes will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. On all other streets, residents should park their cars on the side with even house numbers only (examples 38, 116, 354, etc.), to keep the streets clear for snow plows and emergency vehicles. Residents must also not shovel snow into the street or into storm sewers. Violators are subject to fines in accordance with the municipal ordinance.
For a list of Snow Emergency Routes where no parking is allowed, residents should go to newarknj.gov/snow, call the Non-Emergency Help Center at (973) 733-4311 or watch Newark Municipal Access Television (Cablevision TV78, FiOS Channel 28).
Non-Emergency Help Center
The Non-Emergency Help Center, (973) 733-4311, is available for the following:
Lists of Snow Emergency Routes
Locations of Warming Centers
To make Snow and Ice Complaints
To reach the No-Heat Hotline
Residents are encouraged to abide by the following laws:
Park vehicles in driveways, so that the plows can get through to remove snow and ice.
If possible, share a driveway with neighbors or secure vehicles on off-street lots.
Clear snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of storefronts or homes.
Remove snow and ice from hydrants and/or drains near homes.
If you must venture out, take public transportation or carpool where possible.
Home and property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from all private residential and commercial property, including areas in and around driveways, sidewalks, and walkways. The City of Newark does not provide snow removal services to private property – residential or commercial.
If there is no sidewalk outside of a residence, then snow should be piled on the left side of the driveway (stand facing the residence). If there is a sidewalk in front of the residence, pile snow to the left of the driveway behind the shovel (stand facing the residence). After the street is plowed, the front of the residence should remain clear of obstructions for parking.