Full Notification

Good Evening Fort Lee…. This is Mayor Mark Sokolich with important announcements regarding the impending major winter storm. The National Weather Service anticipates snow to start this afternoon and will continue through 6:00PM on Monday evening…..current predictions are calling for 18 to 25 inches, YES, 18 to 25 inches with wind gusts upwards of 50MPH.  Snowfall rates could exceed 2 inches or more per hour…..with visibility under ¼ mile.  Governor Sherrill has declared a State of Emergency due to the anticipated severity and impact of the storm.
 
At the outset rest assured that all of Fort Lee’s departments and agencies have been and will continue to work 24/7 prior to, during and after this winter storm to keep us all as safe as possible.  All personnel are now on……We have already commenced preliminary salting…. Fort Lee has over 20 trucks equipped with plows. However it is important that all residents cooperate in this effort.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM and all Fort Lee residents must be prepared and ready.
Due to the severity of the storm, there are multiple closures which include:

• All Borough Buildings (including Borough Hall), or recreational and senior citizen activities have been canceled for Monday, February 23.
• All public schools and school activities are closed on Monday, February 23.
• Fort Lee Bus Shuttle service has been suspended for the entire day which includes our shuttle service to the ferry.
• Garbage pickup and recycling have been suspended.
• Please check our local websites as to when the services will be opened and reinstated.

 
THERE ARE A FEW BASIC RULES THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO FOLLOW:
 
We ask all residents to refrain from utilizing their vehicles during and immediately after this storm to keep the roadways clear and allow our DPW and emergency service agencies do their job.  Unnecessary driving of vehicles on our streets will delay not only the snow removal effort but will also prevent our emergency service agencies from responding to calls as quickly as possible.
 
If your street has posted signs stating “NO PARKING WHEN ROAD IS SNOW COVERED” the law requires that you remove your vehicle from the street otherwise you may be towed as a last resort.  With vehicles parked after the snow has fallen we will be prevented from removing the snow and emergency vehicle access will be compromised so we ask for your cooperation to move those vehicles. 

To assist in this effort, as of now there are multiple municipal parking lots available to our residents to park your vehicles free of any charge before and during the storm. If you use any of these lots to park your vehicle, your vehicle must be removed once the streets have been cleared by our DPW.  Please go to “FortLeeToday” for a full listing of the available lots
 
As I have requested in the past, please check in with your neighbors, family members, friends and, in particular, seniors and those residents in need of special assistance....a phone call from a friend or family member goes a long way. 
 
Prior to, during, and after this major winter storm it is very important that you monitor and follow local television and radio news reports for important updates. Specific to Fort Lee, please be sure to follow our Official authorized social media accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook. Simply type in Fort Lee’s official authorized account which is “FortLeeToday” for periodic updates and announcements specific to our community, especially announcements concerning power outages.    

Also, if you are not signed for NIXLE, our text notification system, please do so….simply Text “07024” to 888777 for real-time updates from the Fort Lee Police Department….once again, text “07024” to 888777.

Another source of information to follow is:
NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WWW.READY.NJ.GOV
 
Please use 911 for emergencies ONLY…….911 is not to be used for weather or traffic updates, street opening updates, and so forth.   However, in the event of an emergency, please dial 911……. Our emergency service agencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance and OEM) are fully staffed with all resources deployed during the course of the storm.
In the event of a downed utility line lying on the ground or dangling in the air do not under any circumstance approach the downed line, stay back and call 911.
 
When shoveling, please avoid shoveling the snow onto the streets…New Jersey law provides homeowners with 12 hours to clear their sidewalks after the storm and businesses are provided with a 4 hour period.  If you live next to a fire hydrant or a catch basin(sewer), please do not allow snow to accumulate around either…..please keep all fire hydrants clear for our fire department and all catch basins clear to avoid flooding.
 
I again ask that all residents take the time to refer to and monitor our official social media account on X, Instagram and Facebook…..our official account is “FortLeeToday”…for additional information.
 
Thank you, Fort Lee, for your cooperation….we have been through quite a bit together and this storm is no match for our community. ….and remember please check in on your neighbors, especially our seniors and those folks that live alone and let them know their OK.  God Bless Fort Lee and please keep all our employees and staff in your thoughts during this storm and its aftermath.

Mayor Mark J. Sokolich
 

Instructions:

Winter Storm Warning in effect. Please see linked message from Mayor Mark Sokolich for details.