PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Even with crews in Pennsylvania and New Jersey working through the day to clear the roads of ice and snow from Wednesday night's storm, officials warn the danger is not yet over.
Both Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf and N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy, as well as other state officials, urged residents to make it easier on everyone by staying off the roads unless travel was absolutely necessary.
Authorities say a crash Wednesday night on I-80 in Clinton County in central Pa. involving more the 60 vehicles killed two people. They say a third person died after suffering a medical emergency while stuck in the backup caused by the accident.
Wolf said Thursday that deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday suffered no delays. And officials said there are procedures in place to hold the vaccine if it should become necessary.
With regard to COVID-19, Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh urged continued caution. While some kids might have a snow day with no school, she said, the coronavirus is not taking the day off.
"This virus stays airborne longer in the cold air, so just because you're outside you still need to have a mask on," she said.
According to the National Weather Service, western Montomery County got just over 7.5 inches. Parts of Chester County got around 10 inches. Upper Bucks County got more than 8 inches, while the highest totals in Delaware County topped out around 7 inches.
N.J. State Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said the New Jersey Turnpike, AC Expressway and Garden State Parkway are clear, but work remains for road crews.
"My sense is they will not be perfectly dry by the time the sun sets tonight. So there will be icing. People need to exercise extreme caution," she said.
Murphy said there were far fewer power outages than expected in the state -- about 13,00 at its peak. As of Thursday afternoon, the number had been reduced to fewer than 1,000 customers.
Murphy said the state of emergency will remain in effect for now.
