For Immediate Release
December 22, 2022
Contact Nathan Rudy at (908) 635-8401 for more information.


Somerset County Encourages Residents to Stay Warm This Holiday Weekend As Cold Weather and High Winds Arrive
County Issues a Code Blue Alert for the Upcoming Cold Weekend Weather


SOMERVILLE, NJ = The Somerset County Commissioners are encouraging residents to enjoy their holiday weekend while being safe from the potentially stormy weather. The National Weather Service warns of rain and potential high winds through Saturday, and severely cold weather with potential wind chills below zero degrees through early next week. These storms could result in icing conditions, losses of power, and localized flooding.
“The end of year holidays is a great time to travel to be with friends and family, but in order to arrive safely we all need to be aware of the risks from severe weather,” said Commissioner Doug Singleterry, liaison to Somerset County Public Health & Safety. “Even if you are staying at home, it is important to take care of each other, our pets, and to check on vulnerable neighbors to ensure we all have a wonderful, safe holiday.”
Somerset County has issued a Code Blue Alert until further notice, allowing residents to come to warming shelters as needed and enables authorities to make shelter arrangements for homeless adults. For those who need to seek shelter, a listing of warming centers is available at https://soconj.gov/warmingcenters. For those who require additional assistance, call the local municipal government during business hours, or call 211 after hours, during holidays, and on weekends.
OUTAGES
The Somerset County Commissioners want everyone to be as safe as possible, including being prepared for power outages. If residents experience a power, gas or water outage, notify the appropriate utility company as soon as possible.
JCP&L Emergency Number: 888-LIGHTS (1-888-544-4877)
• JCP&L Report Power Outages: https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/customer/outages_help/Report_Power_Outages.html
• JCP&L Outage Map: http://outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html
PSE&G Emergency Number: 800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSE&G Report Outage/Map: Text OUT to 4PSEG (47734) or visit https://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks/duringanoutage/outageresources and click “Report Outage”
NJ AMERICAN WATER Emergency Number 1-800-272-1325
• To find alerts or report a loss of water, visit at https://emergency.amwater.com/ and click the links in the top left of the page
Tips for staying safe during a winter storm.
• If you need to go outside, wear layers of warm clothing.
o Be sure to have several clean masks to use in case your mask becomes wet or damp from snow.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow or walking in the snow.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• If it is safe to do so, check on elderly or infirm neighbors to ensure they are
• If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you have a health condition that is not immediately dangerous but requires medical care, contact your healthcare provider for further instructions and shelter in place, if possible.
Follow communication channels and emergency alerts to stay informed. Residents can sign up to receive Somerset County emergency alerts by visiting: www.co.somerset.nj.us/alerts. Other trusted sources include local municipal officials, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Preparedness (http://www.ready.nj.gov/) and FEMA (www.ready.gov).
To stay up to date with Somerset County events and information, sign up for free email alerts at www.co.somerset.nj.us/subscribe or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
# # #