WEST MILFORD – The township is doing okay despite several winter storms passing through the area this past week.
Department of Public Works Director and Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Steines said Thursday that the municipality is handling this winter’s storms well and should be okay for the balance of the season.
“I think we will be okay, barring a blizzard or something like that,” Steines said.
A series of storms passed through the state in the last week, giving residents a mixed bag of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
A small snowstorm left only an inch or two Sunday night into Monday, followed by a larger storm Tuesday that brought a real mix of wintry precipitation.
While the town saw less than the forecasted 6-8 inches of snow during the second storm, sleet and freezing rain made driving tough at times.
Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for the state ahead of the storm and district schools were closed Tuesday and had a delayed opening Wednesday morning.
Steines said most of the roads were cleared by municipal crews during the storm, but some county roads, like Macopin and Echo Lake were tougher to navigate when they iced over Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Police radio traffic during the storm included several single-vehicle accidents, but no major injuries.
Steines said the season has so far proved to be normal and the town should be able to handle the month or so left of winter weather.
He said the town has done a pretty good job so far thanks to being able to lay down brine on the roads, making it harder for them to ice over.
Temperatures rose both Wednesday and Thursday letting the ice and snow begin to melt away, keeping roadways clear.