The sun finally broke through the clouds today! Another shot of wintry weather will impact us on Monday, but warmer weather is expected to head our way later next week. I think I speak for everyone when I say that Spring can’t come soon enough.
Unfortunately, due to extreme weather across the country, there have been nationwide mail and package delivery delays. New Jersey has not yet received approximately 230,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses that were expected earlier this week. The state has been working with its vaccination sites to use existing inventory to satisfy current appointments. However, not all sites have been able to do this, and some appointments have been rescheduled and will continue to be rescheduled.
As of yesterday morning, 1,559,569 vaccination doses have been administered in NJ. That includes more than 1.1 million first doses, and more than 456,000 second doses. There continues to be a tremendous imbalance between the supply and demand of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, and shipping delays have added yet another layer of frustration to the ongoing supply challenges.
As NJ's vaccination program continues, the NJDOH is eager to increase distribution points for the vaccine. Unfortunately, the state cannot expand the number of sites until more vaccination doses are available. Currently, there are 1,700 providers in NJ approved to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, but the state only has enough supply to provide vaccination doses to about 300 of these providers. For a list of available locations, please click here<https://newjersey.github.io/vaccine-locations/NJ-COVID-19-Vaccine-Locations…>.
Hopefully, as the state sees an increase in vaccination allotments from the federal government, NJ will expand locations and access for more people to get vaccinated.
To receive notifications regarding your eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and to find out when appointments are available, please sign-up at atlantichealth.org<https://www.atlantichealth.org/conditions-treatments/coronavirus-covid-19/c…> and the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System<https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/>.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
As temperatures fall, it's never a bad idea to take it slow. 70% of snow and ice-related injuries occur in automobiles. Please leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Take it slow and you'll get where you need to go.
Initial intermittent light snow starts early tomorrow morning and turns steadier towards 9:00am. Snow will continue throughout the day. A period of wintry mix with sleet and freezing rain is expected tomorrow night.
As temperatures decrease, icing is likely - do your best to stay off the roads!
An Ice Storm Warning will go in effect at 6:00pm tonight until tomorrow at 10:00am. During this time, road conditions will be extremely hazardous. Please be advised that the State of New Jersey is experiencing a salt shortage and we have been asked to utilize our inventory in the most efficient way possible without sacrificing the safety of our roadways. In Mendham Township, for our 83 miles of roads, each salt application requires about 80 tons of salt. Currently, we have enough for the incoming storm, but I ask that you do your best to stay off the roads from tonight through tomorrow afternoon. We will continue to exhaust all possible options to acquire salt so that we can be prepared for any future weather emergencies.
As the temperature decreases, icing is expected to weigh down branches and power lines.
Please prepare yourself and your family for a possible power outage.
If you lose power, report your outage to JCP&L directly by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), or by visiting www.firstenergycorp.com and clicking the “Report Outage” link on firstenergycorp.com, or by texting 544487. Please have your account number on hand.
If you notice a downed power line or a tree blocking the road, do not go near it, and report it immediately by calling the non-emergency police number at: (973) 543-2581 and pressing 0 to speak to an operator or email: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com.
Please reserve calling 911 for emergency situations.
As a reminder, generators can be a lifesaver during power outages, but such devices can also be dangerous if used or installed improperly. Never use a portable generator inside the house or in a closed or even open garage. Also, do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or other open flame heat sources to keep warm. These sources of heat can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home. A fireplace can be helpful but if the chimney flue is not clear it can also become a hazard. It is important to always have working carbon monoxide detectors.
If you need assistance or someone to check on a community member, please email the Mendham Township OEM at: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com or call them at (973) 370-5905.
Stay safe,
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
As of this morning, the State of New Jersey has administered 1,298,028 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine - 961,449 first doses and 336,002 second doses. This past Wednesday, the Commissioner of the NJ Department of Health announced that this coming week, the state is expecting to see an increase in the delivery of first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, for a total of 67,860 doses. The state is also expecting to receive 87,400 first doses of the Moderna vaccine, which is the same number as last week. The state expects these amounts to remain steady for the next couple of weeks. In addition to first doses, both Pfizer and Moderna supply the state with second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine every week.
As the state continues its vaccination roll-out and we continue to deal with the temperamental winter weather, the NJDOH would like to remind residents that a critical way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is to continue to get tested. If you have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, even if you don't have symptoms, you should get tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that more than half of COVID-19 cases are transmitted from individuals experiencing no symptoms. Until you, your family, and friends, have all received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, knowing your COVID-19 status plays an essential role in protecting yourself and your loved ones.
There are two types of tests available to diagnose COVID-19: Antigen and PCR Tests. If you have symptoms, getting a quick Antigen Test can provide you with a result within 15-30 minutes, so you can start isolating right away. However, Antigen tests are not as accurate compared to the PCR tests. If you are asymptomatic but have been exposed to COVID-19, the PCR test can find very small amounts of the virus that might be present.
Right now, there are more than 400 sites<https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing#test-sites> in NJ to get tested. The testing center at the County College of Morris continues to operate 9:00am - 4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. This site has been conducting around 400 PCR tests per day with a 24-hour turnaround for results. There are no costs for these tests, but appointments<https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/b8hq2y7k/> are required. The county plans to keep this site open for the foreseeable future.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
As a reminder - due to last week's collection cancellation, ALL RECYCLABLE MATERIAL will be picked up tomorrow - Monday, February 8th.
Please put recyclables out to the curb by 6:00am tomorrow morning.
Yesterday, the indoor capacity at restaurants, indoor entertainment and recreation areas, casinos, gyms and personal care businesses was increased from 25% to 35%. The Governor announced on Wednesday, February 3rd during his daily briefing that this decision was made due to the decreased rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations and transmission in New Jersey.
Additionally, the statewide requirement that all restaurants close indoor service as of 10:00pm was lifted. The relaxing of restrictions provides much needed flexibility as our community and businesses are doing everything they can to survive.
As restaurant restrictions relax just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, the state of New Jersey is preparing for more snow. Snowfall is projected early tomorrow morning and will continue into the afternoon. With the temperatures decreasing this evening, ice is likely. Our Department of Public Works will be staged and ready to go before snow hits the ground. If possible, please do your best to stay home and off the roads.
If you need assistance or someone to check on a community member, please email the Mendham Township Office of Emergency Management at: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com or call them at (973) 370-5905.
Have a good weekend, take care, and enjoy the Super Bowl safely.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
Winter Storm Orlena has been gradually winding down this afternoon after it pummeled the Northeast.
If you saw the state of our roads today, you would have had no idea that we had over 30 inches of snowfall over the last 48 hours. A special thanks should be given to the men of our Department of Public Works, who have been working on combating the storm since 4pm Sunday. Although, now, our roads are clear, as precipitation continues throughout the night and into tomorrow and temperatures drop, please exercise caution while driving throughout town.
Our Mendham Township Police Department, Fire Department, and First Aid Squad have been staged and ready to go since the storm began, and, during the storm, they were actively responding to emergency calls. To ensure our first responders can respond adequately, as you remove the snow from your driveways, please also remove snow and ice within a 3-foot perimeter of fire hydrants, and please shovel a pathway from the hydrant to the streets. If possible, try to remove any ice that might be formed on the hydrant.
Luckily, our town has not experienced any power outages, so generator-use was not an issue; however, there is still a risk of carbon monoxide build-up when snow or ice covers vents and blocks carbon monoxide from exiting your home. Also, please do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or other open flame heat sources to keep warm. These sources of heat can also cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home.
If you need assistance or someone to check on a community member, please email the Mendham Township OEM at: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com or call them at (973) 370-5905.
Please reserve calling 911 for emergency situations.
Stay safe and take care,
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township