The last statewide state of emergency occurred in 1996. New Jersey has not seen snowfall totals like the February 2026 blizzard since 2021.
The Garden State saw record snowfall over the weekend and into the early week beginning February 22nd, 2026, through Monday. Executive Order No. 45 was issued on January 8, 1996, for severe weather, terminating on January 13, 1996. Thirty years ago, the entire state was placed under a state of emergency due to blizzard warnings. Three decades later, the state is under extreme conditions with a majority of the state receiving at least fifteen inches of snow. Record-breaking numbers with some areas receiving over thirty inches. In 1996, the turnpike closed for the first time in its history. This time in 2026, crews worked around the clock to ensure everyone’s safety. With a ban on all travel except for essential workers, many used roadways to reach their jobs. Below is a photo of the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 83, with a crew clearing snow buildup and salting the roadways.
Lyndhurst, NJ, saw 30.7 inches of snow, a record for the area. Many other parts of New Jersey saw power outages, with over 150,000 people without power, according to energy provider Jersey Central Power & Light. Over 2,000 flights have been cancelled since the storm began, causing chaos for travellers who need to travel for events such as family emergencies, work, and pleasure.
Users on Threads submitted photos showing the magnitude of the storm.
Meet Food Not Bombs, a grassroots organization helping communities not only in New Jersey but across the country. Explore the Jersey Shore Network.
About 1 in 7 Americans live in households that have difficulty affording food, with nearly 18 million skipping meals. [source] FRAC is the main source for hunger statistics by race, indicating that food insecurity among Black (24.4%) and Hispanic (20.2%) households stays notably higher than the national average.
“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
Public Law 119-21, signed on July 4, 2025, details a $187 billion reduction in SNAP and Medicaid funding. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) and Feeding America Action examined the potential impacts, particularly emphasizing the expanded work requirements for adults up to age 64 and the removal of eligibility for certain non-citizens, including refugees and asylees.
In New Jersey, the number of individuals getting SNAP benefits (commonly known as “NJ SNAP”) has varied considerably over the past year because of policy updates and economic changes.
According to the most recent data from the New Jersey Department of Human Services (December 2025), roughly 800,000 people receive SNAP benefits in the state. [source]
On September 20, 2025, the USDA stated it would end future Household Food Security Reports, citing them as “redundant” and “politicized.” This decision has sparked significant controversy among food security advocates.
Who is Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs (FNB) is a decentralized, international volunteer network that salvages food destined for disposal and distributes it as free vegan and vegetarian meals. Instead of functioning as a conventional charity, the organization sees itself as a form of nonviolent direct action, protesting war, poverty, and the “military-industrial complex”.
Values:
Always Vegan or Vegetarian
Autonomous and Decentralized
Solidarity, Not Charity
The group was founded in 1980 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by activists opposed to nuclear energy. Their first protest occurred outside the Federal Reserve Bank in 1981, protesting nuclear sector investments. Today, Food Not Bombs has over 1,000 chapters across 60 countries. In addition to providing meals, chapters often support protests, strikes, and occupations logistically. They were among the first to deliver food during disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
In New Jersey, several active or historically significant chapters share food in public spaces. Known locations include:
New Brunswick: Historically, it has served on Tuesday mornings at the corner of French St. and Jersey Ave., often offering coffee and bread to workers and unhoused individuals.
Trenton: Has shared meals at locations like the Imani Center on Sundays.
Asbury Park (Jersey Shore): Operates as a local collective serving the shore community.
Camden, Jersey City, and Hoboken have also hosted independent FNB collectives.
Food Not Bombs plays a vital role in supporting communities that have been neglected by their government.
Explore the action on February 20th, 2026, in Lakewood, NJ.
New Jersey braces for an impactful storm affecting all 21 counties, a state of emergency is in effect starting February 22nd at 12pm
New Jersey is bracing for a historic weather event beginning on February 22nd, 2026, with blizzard conditions along the shore and significant snowfall throughout the rest of the state. Safety is essential, and Gov. Sherrill has issued a state of emergency effective on February 22nd at 12 pm and set to expire when conditions are safe and improve. The governor met with five key members of the state in Mapleshade, NJ, today, issuing remarks on the Office of Emergency Management, NJ Transit, and updates on state infrastructure.
Governor Sherrill State of Emergency Press Release:
Key updates:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
154 PM EST Sat Feb 21 2026
BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 6 PM EST MONDAY (February 23rd 2026)
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations
between 16 and 20 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to 6 PM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of
blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous
conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes.
Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel,
have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with
your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
The national weather service has issued severe warnings across the state due to the threat of life from the storm. All people are encouraged to shelter in place.
Following a chaotic morning shooting on Kings Road, Roxbury residents are demanding answers. Between a controversial 470,000-square-foot warehouse proposal and increased ICE activity across NJ
“I was born here, but I’m still nervous. It does not go by me every day to think that I could be stopped,” Roxbury Township resident Sharon Medina said at Tuesday night’s meeting.
ICE has been targeting New Jersey since July of 2025, and residents are fed up. On February 10th, 2026, around 7 am, a shooting occurred in Roxbury, NJ, on Kings Road across from the historic train station.
“I saw a video earlier today where the gentleman was not in a car and there was a gun drawn facing him in the street in our area,” resident Diana May said
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says an ICE officer shot out the tires of a vehicle that rammed a law enforcement vehicle during an immigration arrest on Tuesday in Roxbury. According to a DHS spokesperson, federal agents were conducting a planned operation to take Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas into custody.
“In an attempt to evade arrest, Lopez-Banegas rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over,” the DHS statement said.
“We recognize that matters of this nature raise concerns within our communities,” Davenport’s statement continued. “Public safety remains our top priority. As Acting Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, it is my duty to protect the safety of residents of this state and uphold the Constitution. I will do everything in my power to fulfill this responsibility.”
ICE has been spotted in Hoptacong, NJ, multiple times over the past few days. Video evidence shows ICE performing vehicle stops in neighborhoods, stoking fear amongst residents.
On February 10th, around 6pm, ICE vehicles were spotted being transported westbound on Route 80. DHS has not disclosed the vehicles’ destinations, and the department has refused to comment on the activity.
The protests in Roxbury, New Jersey, were triggered by reports that the federal government plans to convert a massive local warehouse into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility.
The controversy began in late December 2025 and continued into January 2026 after The Washington Post reported leaked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents. These documents identify a 470,000-square-foot warehouse on Route 46 as a possible site to hold up to 1,500 detainees. Many protesters contend that warehouses are meant for “packages, not people,” pointing out issues such as inadequate ventilation, lack of natural light, and poor sanitation. Local residents and the all-Republican town council are worried about the impact on infrastructure, including water supplies, sewers, and emergency services like police and fire. On January 13, 2026, Roxbury’s town council unanimously adopted a resolution firmly opposing the facility.
The Legal Battle
Although New Jersey enacted a law in 2021 that prevents towns and counties from contracting with ICE, private companies such as Dalfen Industrial, owner of the Roxbury warehouse, can still collaborate with the federal government. Protesters are now urging the town to utilize zoning ordinances and land-use laws to block the facility, contending that, despite the federal government’s “supremacy,” private corporations are still required to adhere to local building and safety regulations.
Getting Involved
Protests will continue, and on Presidents Day 2026, a protest will take place at Ledgewood Commons in Ledgewood, NJ.
The flyer distributed by the activist group No Ice Roxbury is as follows.
