In the first snowstorm of 2021, Lawrence Township was blanketed with roughly 11.5 inches of snow.
The snow began falling Jan. 31 and continued all day and into the night Feb. 1. There were occasional snow showers during the following day.
Students who were expecting a snow day, however, were out of luck. The Lawrence Township Public Schools reverted to remote instruction on Feb. 1-3. Sports events were canceled Feb. 1-3.
The snow impacted more than the public schools, causing the cancelation of the Lawrence Township Council’s Feb. 2 meeting. The Lawrence Township Municipal Court sessions, set for Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, also were canceled.
The snow also scrambled trash collection. Trash that was set to be picked up Feb. 1 was rescheduled for Feb. 5, and trash that was to be collected on Feb. 2 was rescheduled for Feb. 6.
Lawrence Township residents were reminded to remove their cars from the streets, so the Department of Public Works snow plows could clear the roads.
Residents – whether they were homeowners or tenants – also were reminded to shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours after the last snowflake fell, so that children could safely walk to the school bus or to school.
Lawrence Township’s paid firefighters spent much of their day Feb. 2 clearing snow from the area around the fire hydrants. In a Facebook post, they pointed out that “seconds matter” when there is a fire, and called on residents to uncover fire hydrants near their homes.