Area police report now major storm-related headaches.
By: Cynthia Koons and Scott Morgan
The massive Presidents Day snowstorm that shut down most of the eastern seaboard amounted to little more than a day off area residents would have had anyway.
Though the storm is blamed for more than 35 deaths and massive power outages throughout its range, and though it buried some parts of the area in up to 2 feet of snow, local emergency departments reported nothing out of the ordinary.
"We were pretty lucky," said Plumsted Police Lt. George Titko. "We had a couple cars go off the road, but we just pulled them out and they went on their way."
Likewise, State Police Sgt. Al Dell Fave, a departmental public information officer, said the central New Jersey region was a quiet one. Sgt. Della Fave said there were no power outages, no accidents and no traffic problems throughout Millstone and Upper Freehold, where the State Police patrols.
"I guess (Gov. James E. McGreevey’s) declaring a state of emergency really helped keep people off the roads," the sergeant said.
Washington Township Police Captain Martin Masseroni said that though the department handled some minor fender benders and a few disabled vehicles during the snowstorm, there were no major traffic accidents in the township. He also said the state and township were to be commended.
"The state did a very good job and the township road department did an excellent job," he said. "We’re moving right on the money here."
In Allentown, Patrolman Ian Bole of the Allentown Police Department said there were no major accidents on Monday in the borough. The roads were plowed and traffic was moving by Tuesday morning, he added.

