The first snow from what is expected to turn into a blizzard has begun falling in South Jersey Watch video
Officials from the three southwestern expected to bear the brunt of this weekend's snowstorm say they are as prepared as they can be.
"I've done all I can do," said Mayor Bob Campbell of Downe Township, the Delaware Bayshore area devastated by Superstorm Sandy and now threatened by a fresh round of damage from predicted weekend flooding.
"It's wait and see," Campbell said Friday afternoon.
Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties are expected to see a foot and a half of snow and endure blizzard conditions, according to the latest forecasts.
Just after darkness fell Friday, snow began falling steadily in the southernmost areas.
By 7 p.m. the quick-falling show had already covered roadways in Salem County.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, all effective through Saturday.
One of the biggest fears is flooding from the storm. Moderate flooding is expected with waves on the Delaware Bay forecast to be four to eight feet high on top of the unusually high tides during the storm and full moon, officials say.
While there might be a lull in the storm Sautrday morning and a brief changeover to rain, still 10 to 16 inches of snow is expected in parts of Cumberland County.
The Bayshore area of Cumberland County, specifically Fortescue, was among the first there to see substantial snowfall Friday and road crews were out.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has staged its five-ton high wheeled vehicles in Millville, Mauricetown and Delmont for use in transporting essential personnel or getting through floodwaters, officials said.
"If people need to be on the road, motorists are encouraged to keep a safe distance behind the snow plow trucks," said Cumberland County Deputy Administrator Kim Wood. "This is an important safety measure motoring public as well as for the operators of the snow plows."
Cumberland crews plenty of salt on hand, Wood noted.
In Gloucester County, road crews have been busy for several days preparing for the storm, according to Vincent Voltaggio, county engineer and director of public works.
"We've been brining the roads for the last three days," Voltaggio reported Friday morning. "We had four trucks out brining all 412 miles of county roads."
Plows and salt spreaders have been attached to trucks and crews are ready to tackle the snow. The county will have about 40 trucks out plowing and salting over the next several days.
"All the trucks are getting loaded and we're ready to go," Voltaggio said.
The Salem County Department of Emergency Management issued a simple message late Friday: If you are not required to work, make every effort to stay at home and indoors.
Officials said latest indications are that an 18-inche snowfall should be expected along with high winds creating blizzard conditions.
Another important note was that residents should be calling to check in on relatives or neighbors who are homebound or elderly and also have their own family prepared on what to do if there is a power outage.
Freeholder Director Julie Acton said the Road Department has finished salt brining all roads to county hospitals and had salted intersections of county roads.
"We ask our residents to make safety a priority and stay off roads to allow the snow plows an opportunity to clear the roads," Acton said.
The biggest fear in the most rural areas was a loss of power. For the past two days long lines at gas stations included many seen filling gas cans for generators.
While most in South Jersey worried about the snow, Campbell said he was most concerned about flooding. The nor'easter and the full moon were expected to produce unusually high tides.
And it won't just be Cumberland officials watching the rising waters. Tidal areas in neighboring Salem County and upriver in Gloucester County are also subject to flooding.
Campbell said he's been told that the storm surge could rival that seen during Sandy,
He said most of the beach front residents in Downe Township have decided to ride out the storm.
Should flooding become severe, Campbell said emergency responders are ready.
"We will go door to door physically to make sure people are safe," the mayor said.
Staff Writer Matt Gray contributed to this story.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.