State leaders say preparation—not panic—is the focus as New Jersey braces for what could be its most significant snowstorm since 2016.

"It's been a while since we have seen a storm like this. We're tough, but we need to be prepared," says Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

During a news conference at the State's Regional Operations and Intelligence Center in Ewing, newly sworn-in Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency, saying the goal is to protect lives and limit disruptions during the storm.

One of the biggest concerns is making sure counties and municipalities have enough road salt.

"The Port has salt. Morton Salt has stopped all private work. They are just working to supply any municipality or county," Gov. Sherrill says. "They will have front-of-the-line privileges, so if you feel you are not prepared, now is the time. Get to the Port and get the salt you need."

Since taking office on Tuesday, Gov. Sherill says she has checked in with all 21 counties and more than 100 municipalities to ensure they're prepared, with continued coordination planned throughout the storm.

The state's Emergency Center is set to open at 6 pm on Saturday, allowing officials to stay in constant contact with local governments across the state.

"We will deploy approximately 3,800 pieces of equipment to conduct snow removal operations, and between the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, approximately 1,000 pieces of equipment will be deployed...Crews will work around the clock and after the storm to ensure roads are clear and safe," said Joseph Bertoni, Acting Commissioner for the Department of Transportation.

Once the storm begins, officials are urging residents to put safety first as crews work to restore power outages across the area.

"If you have an outage at your home or business, please report it directly to your utility. The utilities will be bringing additional crews and holding crews over to ensure there are enough staff to help restore any outages as soon as possible," said Christine Guhl-Sadovy, Board of Utilities president.

State leaders have also announced commercial vehicle travel restrictions on interstate highways as a precaution. As for further impacts, to alter the NJ Transit Service schedule, decisions will not be made until later Saturday.

"You have a lot of people in New Jersey working for you around the clock to keep you safe so help us help you. Stay in on Sunday," said Gov. Sherrill.