The Big Dig: Emergency Workers Contend With Blizzard's Mess

UPDATE: Abandoned vehicles along both highways and side streets are causing clean up from last night's blizzard to be extremely challenging, according to emergency personnel in both Eatontown and Tinton Falls.

A Code Red emergency alert issued by the Eatontown Police Department at 2:50 p.m. advised residents that plowing had been delayed due to excessive snow amounts as well as numerous abandoned vehicles on the borough's streets.

The phone message alerted residents that main arteries were the priority and neighborhood streets would not be cleared for several more hours.

Tinton Falls Police Chief John A. Scrivanic said that abandoned vehicles had had "quite and impact" on clean up efforts in that borough as well.

Plowing trucks from the Tinton Falls Department of Public Works spent some of last night helping EMS workers access drivers who were stopped along Route 36 either due to an accident or having gotten stuck in the snow, according to DPW Director Gary Gebele.

Tinton Falls had about 19 trucks and five sanders out working throughout the day and about 40 workers out driving and shoveling, said Gebele.

He estimated that borough roads should be plowed and sanded by about 6 p.m.

Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo summed it up best: "We have a mess."

A  fierce storm whipped around Monmouth County, and left behind up to two feet and a paralyzed tri-state area.

The National Weather Service issued a bleak outlook about travel, saying that whiteout conditions were likely into Monday and that the storm had the potential to knock out power, down tree limbs and tear off Christmas decorations.

Snowfall totals were increasing by about an inch-per-hour as midnight neared, the Weather Service said, while wind gusts are still expected to increase and could near 60 miles per hour into tomorrow.

New  Jersey residents woke up to well over a foot of snow and 15 to 20 inches are expected in total, though as much as 24 inches could fall, the Weather Service said.

Middletown had snowfall totals of 21 inches of snow as of midnight last night.

NJ Transit said most rail lines will be on an "enhanced weekend schedule" on Monday, meaning more trains than a weekend, but still fewer than weekdays to match a lower number of expected riders. Bus service was canceled as of 8:30 p.m. and transit officials said riders should check njtransit.com for service updates.

Senate President and Acting Governor Stephen M. Sweeney  Sunday night and urged people to avoid travel. Sweeney is holding the state's top post while Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno are out of state.

"It is vital that police and public works crews are able to do their jobs. I urge all residents to take this declaration and this storm seriously, and to stay safe, stay home and stay off the roads. We will continue to monitor this storm with the help of our State Police and transportation officials," Sweeney said in a statement. 

All state offices were scheduled to open two hours later Monday morning, said Sgt. Stephen Jones of the New Jersey State Police. 

The only silver lining in the storm is that most schools are closed this week, and many parents are on vacation, meaning that when the snow ends many popular sledding hills will come alive.

State Police reported at least 97 accidents on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway Sunday afternoon. Clearing roads could become more difficult as freezing temperatures are expected across the area until Thursday when forecasts predict a high near 41 degrees.

The National Weather Service urged people who must go out to bring a winter survival kit with them and to stay with their vehicle if they become stuck.