UPPER FREEHOLD — Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Wentzien, and Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator James Rosenbauer reported on the township’s response to the so-called “holiday blizzard” between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Mayor Lorisue Horsnall Mount said at the Jan. 20 Township Committee meeting that she wants everyone to have a better understanding of procedures during a snow emergency, including plowing priorities and the chain of command.
Wentzien said the Office of Emergency Management becomes the Emergency Operations Center (EOS) for Upper Freehold in any emergency or disaster. As coordinator, he establishes communications with the governing body, the Department of Public Works (DPW), emergency medical services and the New Jersey State Police. During the “holiday blizzard,” he also had to contact the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management for help due to a medical emergency on Polhemoustown Road and the breakdown of DPW equipment. Wentzien had to declare a state of emergency in order to receive help from the county, he said.
The township was fortunate not to lose electricity during the recent blizzard. Rosenbauer used his home weather station to supply hourly weather briefings to Wentzien and first responders.
“This information was valuable to first responders and in particular the road department during the first phase of the blizzard,” Wentzien said.
The procedures for snow removal include having the DPW clear major roads and the Allentown First Aid Squad premises first, according to Wentzien. Hope Fire Company uses its own equipment to clear snow from the firehouse premises, he said.
After the major roads are passable, the DPW begins clearing development roads. Wentzien said he does not have the authority to hire additional employees to clear roads, as that requires authorization from the Township Committee. During the last storm, Mount authorized the DPW to secure a contractor and a county frontend loader to use from 2 to 11 p.m., he said.
The township has limited resources to cope with storms like the recent blizzard, according to Wentzien. He said housing developments should strive to become more self-sufficient. He said those with snowplows, blowers or tractors should help their neighbors during a storm.
“We’re trying to promote the pooling of resources,” he said.
The governing body voted 4-0 to pass a resolution to occasionally hire a parttime plow driver during snow emergencies. Committeeman Steve Alexander was absent. Michael Plypiak was included on the list of on-call snowplow drivers at a rate of $15 per hour.