FROM THE Ocean County Road Department to the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management, County government agencies tasked with clearing roads and assisting citizens are ready for the impending snowstorm.

"Ocean County is prepared to handle winter weather whether it be snow, ice, a wintry mix or storms," said Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners John P. Kelly, who is also liaison to the Ocean County Road Department. "Our County departments work in partnership to assure safety on our roads and continued accessibility to our programs and services."

The Ocean County Road Department and Bridge Departments will mobilize a fleet of about 200 trucks and other vehicles and about 175 employees to salt and clear roads during the storm.

"We started brining our roads Thursday morning," said Scott Waters, Ocean County Road Department Supervisor. "Once the snow starts, we will put down salt and follow with plowing. We anticipate working throughout the night and during the duration of the storm until all county roads are plowed."

County officials are urging motorists to stay off the roads during the storm.

"Being on the roads during this kind of forecasted storm when it's not necessary puts you in harms' way along with our road crews, police and emergency responders that have to be out," Kelly said. "Because it's the weekend I urge our residents to stay home if you can."

Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy said the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management and the Sheriff's Department will be providing assistance to citizens throughout the storm.

"We ask that residents only call 911 when there is an emergency," Mastronardy said. "Please do not call the 911 call center for information on the weather or road conditions, the lines need to stay clear for medical and public safety emergencies."

The Ocean County Office of Emergency Management recommends the following for during the storm:
• Stay inside.
• Close off unoccupied rooms in the home.
• DO NOT use charcoal burning devices.
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers as needed to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent chill.
• Set the thermostat in your house no lower than fifty-five degrees.
• Allow a slow trickle of water to flow from both the hot and cold water faucets, especially if the faucet is on an exterior wall.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes and appliances near exterior walls.
• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids and eat high caloric foods.
• Do not drive unless the roads have been cleared by snowplows. If you need transportation for a critical medical treatment or a critical prescription filled, call the Ocean County Sheriff's Department, Office of Emergency Management at (732) 341-3451 or toll free (800) 331-8152.

The county is prepared with 30,000 tons of treated salt. The county uses salt treated with calcium chloride which does a better job when clearing snow and ice.

Once enough snow falls to warrant plowing, the first of the county roads to be cleared are the 500 series, which includes such main roads as Hooper Avenue in Toms River Township, and Route 571, which travels through Toms River Township to Jackson Township. In Southern Ocean County, those roads include Route 539.

"We start with these main roads and work our way to the secondary roads," Waters said.

The Ocean County Road Department is also responsible for clearing all the county parking lots including the vocational-technical centers, the resource centers, Transportation Department, and libraries.

The Road Department is assisted by other county departments including Solid Waste Management, Buildings and Grounds and Parks and Recreation.

"It's a cooperative effort on the part of the County to make certain our residents are safe," Kelly said. "The cooperation makes for a much smoother and efficient operation."

The Ocean County Department of Buildings and Grounds is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the County's 135 government buildings.

"Getting areas around our buildings shoveled and salted allows us to continue to provide services to our citizens while keeping the staff safe," said Ocean County Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari, liaison to the Ocean County Department of Buildings and Grounds.

Kelly noted that patience will help get everyone through the storm safely.

"We have over 1,600 county lane miles in Ocean County, the most in the state," Kelly said. "Our road department will clear the county roads as expeditiously as possible."