Emergency Notification System | Camden County, NJ

Winter Storm Preparation for Gloucester City Residents and Businesses The potential for a high impact winter storm late Friday through Saturday has Gloucester City officials and departments preparing to deal with a winter storm consisting of moderate to heavy snow accumulation, gusty winds, and a potential for some flooding. While there is still some uncertainty about the exact track of the storm, there is little doubt that it will impact our area with some form of snow accumulation. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and make preparations by discussing emergency plans with family members including plans for your pets; replenishing disaster supply kits for home and vehicles; and registering with Swift911, the county’s Community Notification System, at http://www.camdencounty.com/public-safety/emergency-management-and-homeland-security/emergency-notification-system . Residents can also visit www.ready.gov to find information about generator and alternative heating device safety and steps to take during prolonged power outages as well as other emergency preparedness information to enhance you and your family’s safety and resiliency during emergencies and disasters. Now is the time to restock supplies such as flashlights, batteries, battery-operated radios, non-perishable food and water; charge electronic devices; check on elderly and compromised relatives and neighbors; fuel vehicles; have cash and prescription medicines on hand, etc. Residents who live in areas that typically flood should consider moving their vehicles to higher ground prior to the storm’s arrival late Friday and also make every effort to avoid driving through flood waters. All City Department are preparing for the upcoming event to enhance our City’s resiliency and be available if an emergency occurs. Do you part to maximize you and your family’s safety and we’ll all get through this together as we have experienced worse snow events and have come through it rather well. Remember the 3 C’s…Communicate with family, friends and neighbors about the upcoming storm, remain Calm and Cooperate with authorities, particularly as it relates to snow plow operations and any direction provided by Fire, Police or EMS. Please review the following as now is the time to act… Winter Storms A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms. BEFORE A WINTER STORM • Be familiar with winter storm warning messages • Service snow removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways and kitty litter to generate temporary traction • Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off • Winterize your home o Insulate walls and attic. o Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows. o Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. • Have safe emergency heating equipment available o Fireplace with ample supply of wood o Small, well-vented, wood, coal, or camp stove with fuel o Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters (See Kerosene Heaters.) • Install and check smoke detectors. • Keep pipes from freezing. o Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers. o Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. o Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing. o Know how to shut off water valves. • For those living in trailer parks:. o Ensure that trailer and external fuel tanks are secured to sufficient anchoring systems. (Inquire with trailer park management if not known) o Consider relocating with family and friends who live in an ordinarily constructed dwelling before the storm arrives if high and/or sustained winds are forecast. o Let park management know if you are locating or if you need additional assistance. o Take the above actions before the storm arrives • Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out. (see emergency checklists for more info) o Flashlight and extra batteries o Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries. o First aid kit o One-week supply of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is shut off, see emergency checklists for more info) o Non-electric can opener o One-week supply of essential prescription medications o Extra blankets and sleeping bags o Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type) • Develop an emergency communication plan • In case family members are separated from one another during a winter storm (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together • Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person • Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a severe winter storm • Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department, and which radio station to tune to for emergency information (WKDN 106.9 FM is the official station but most rebroadcast Emergency Alert System messages) DURING A WINTER STORM If Indoors: • Stay indoors and dress warmly. If you must drive or get caught in a storm make sure you are familiar with our Winter Driving Tips by clicking here. Conserve fuel. • Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night. Close off unused rooms. • If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. • Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate). • Listen to the radio or television to get the latest information. • Power Outages and Generator Safety If Outdoors: • Dress warmly. • Wear loose-fitting, layered, light-weight clothing. Layers can be removed to prevent perspiration and chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellant. Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth when they touch each other. • Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. Also take frequent breaks. • Cover your mouth. • Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors. Try not to speak unless absolutely necessary. • Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse. Be aware of symptoms of dehydration. • Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. • Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. WIND CHILL "Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees colder. WINTER STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS • A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. • A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way. • A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours. FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion. If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure. Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket. Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures. MITIGATION Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Investing in preventive mitigation steps now such as purchasing a flood insurance policy and installing storm windows will help reduce the impact of winter storms in the future. For more information on mitigation, go to www.ready.gov .

Timeline Photos

STREET LIGHT OUTAGES We are asking for the assistance of all of our residents in reporting street lights that are out throughout the city. Anyone who notices a street light out in their neighborhood can report the outage directly to PSE&G by either going on line and logging on to your PSE&G account or calling 1-800-436-7734. Each utility pole has a metal tag on it listing several numbers, usually followed by the letters "GC." PSE&G will request the pole number, along with the street name and block where the utility pole is located as well as the nearest cross street. Thank you and we appreciate everyone's help in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Timeline Photos

District of New Jersey | Department of Justice

MEDIA RELEASE THREE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH SEX TRAFFICKING OF MINOR JANUARY 18, 2016 United States Attorney District of New Jersey FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matthew Reilly Jan. 15, 2016 Office of Public Affairs www.justice.gov/usao/nj (973) 645-2888 THREE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH SEX TRAFFICKING OF MINOR TRENTON, N.J. – Two people appeared in federal court today on charges they conspired to engage in sex trafficking of a minor and engaged in sex trafficking of a minor, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Aaron Gray, 29, a/k/a “AR,” Aja Easley, 22, both of Camden, appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court. Gray, Easley and a third defendant, Kenneth Mertz, 35, of Collingswood, who remains at large, are each charged in a three-count complaint with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor and with sex trafficking of a minor. Gray is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gray and Easley were ordered detained without bail. According to the documents filed in this case: On March 2, 2015, Easley allegedly communicated with the victim, a minor, using a social media website. She told the victim she was “worried about” the victim because of a previous assault by the victim’s boyfriend. She offered the victim money, clothing and shelter and met with the victim at the Camden Transportation Center. Easley allegedly told the victim about a dating website and said the victim could make money through the website by going on “dates.” Easley and the victim later met Gray and Mertz at a residence in Camden. Mertz then drove everyone to a motel in Cherry Hill. At the motel, Gray and Easley allegedly attempted to convince the victim to engage in commercial sex acts and took suggestive photos of the victim, which were used as part of an advertisement on the website. Easley used her cellular telephone to communicate with multiple individuals who responded to the ad. Gray gave the victim instructions on what to do when the respondents arrived. The victim observed Gray in possession of a firearm and also observed a collapsible nightstick, which was later determined to belong to Mertz. On March 3, 2015, at a motel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, the victim engaged in sex acts with multiple individuals, who responded to the ad and paid money to the defendants. The defendants later told the victim they were taking the victim to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to meet another person who had responded to the ad. On the way to Atlantic City, the defendants allegedly agreed to let the victim stop at a residence in Gloucester City, New Jersey. The victim went inside and contacted the police, leading to the defendants’ arrest. The count of conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The substantive count of sex trafficking of a minor carries a statutory mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum of life in prison. The felon-in-possession count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, and members of the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Dennis Cribben, and the Gloucester City Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Chief Michael Morell, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brendan Day in Trenton. The charges and allegations summarized above are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Timeline Photos