By: Michael Bautista, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
Glassboro is slowly returning to normal after a powerful winter storm dumped heavy snow across South Jersey, forcing closures and precautionary emergency measures to be taken. Many parts of the region also experienced power outages.
The nor’easter swept through the region Sunday into Monday morning, bringing significant snowfall, strong winds, and near-whiteout conditions at times. Road crews worked overnight into the early hours of Monday morning to clear major routes as emergency officials urged residents to stay at home.
Rowan University shut down all campuses begin in at 5 p.m. Sunday through Monday as the storm intensified. University leaders informed the campus community of the updates via a Rowan Alert that was sent out to the campus community through email and text messages. Students and most employees were instructed not to report to campus, while essential staff were to coordinate with their supervisors.
During the closure, only limited services remained available. The Wellness Center opened Monday briefly for urgent medical and mental health concerns, while the Student Recreation Center operated on modified hours and the Chamberlain Student Center remained open for residential students
University officials announced via social media overnight that Rowan would resume normal operations on Tuesday, Feb. 24, but are urging the campus community to travel cautiously.
Across the borough, the storm promoted boarder emergency action. Gloucester County formally declared a State of Emergency on Monday, Feb. 23, after what officials described as historic snowfall totals and hazardous roadway conditions.
The Glassboro Police Department announced a countywide no street parking restriction, warning that only vehicles left on roadways could hinder plow operations and emergency response. Officers also strongly encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel while crews continued clearing secondary streets.
To keep pace with sustained snowfall, additional contracted snow removal crews were deployed to support county public work teams, a sign of the storm’s operational strain.
Even as cleanup continues, some local services never stopped. Borough officials also confirmed trash collection is running on its regular schedule and asked residents to place cans curbside the night before pickup with lids secured.
Schools in the area are preparing a cautious return. Superintendent Al Lewis announced that Glassboro Public Schools will operate on a two–hour delayed opening on Tuesday, noting that facilities, transportation, and ground crews have been working around the clock to prepare buildings and buses for students’ arrival.
As the storm’s impact was still unfolding across the region, Washington Township police reported that more than 52,000 customers across South Jersey remain without power, calling the outages a likely multi-day restoration event. In the Whitman Square development alone, 469 customers are still awaiting assessment as additional out-of-state utility crews mobilize.
Cold weather has also raised concerns for vulnerable residents. The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management reminded the public that counties may activate Code Blue alerts. When temperatures drop below freezing, warming centers are often open to the public in places such as libraries and social service offices for unsheltered individuals.
Although statewide travel restrictions have been lifted, officials have warned that some roads in and around Glassboro remain submerged in snow and visibility may be limited in spots. Crews continue working to widen lanes and clear neighborhood streets.
For many Glassboro residents, Monday was spent shoveling away driveways and sidewalks, and checking in on neighbors to make sure they had made out alright.
Now, with Rowan University preparing to reopen and schools set to welcome students back, the borough is shifting its response into a recovery operation. Authorities, however, are still cautioning residents as they return to normalcy.
The Glassboro mayor’s office declined Follow South Jersey’s request for comment.
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