Everyone loves a winter white, state of emergency Halloween. Wait, what?

New Jersey hasn't seen snow in October since 1954. And even with a few days warning, not many news outlets predicted such accumulation in Monmouth County.

But Marlboro was as ready as any township could be. Snow removal equipment was serviced just last week, and the plows are out in full force now.

According to JCP&L's outage map, as of 7:51 p.m. 85 people in Marlboro and 10 people in Morganville are without power. 143 people in Colts Neck are without power.

Throughout New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie tweeted that more than 500,000 people are without power. He has now declared a state of emergency.

This afternoon, a Manalapan ambulance had a minor crash due to slippery roads on Rt. 9 in Morganville, and a car overturned on Rt. 18 in Colts Neck. No serious injuries were reported.

The bottom line during a state of emergency is to stay off of the roads. Even though it is October, the governor and Marlboro Township are asking people to take this storm seriously. Downed wires and trees are accumulating, and the roads are becoming more slippery as the night gets colder.

A message from Hornik to Marlboro residents:

We have been keeping close tabs on this storm and Township de-icing equipment has been deployed. As of approximately 4:00 pm on Saturday, we are expecting an accumulation of up to 3 inches before the storm leaves the area after midnight tonight. During this period, significant rainfall and heavy winds are also expected. Again, if you need to be on the roads, please stay alert and drive carefully.

Otherwise, it is recommended to stay off of the roadways so that Township personnel can work as efficiently as possible to keep the streets clear and safe. I will be sure to keep you updated as this storm progresses.