Gov. Christie Declares State Of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Sandy

With reports of severe weather conditions coming our way, Governor Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency throughout the state.

"As we move towards what is an increasingly likelihood of seeing Sandy make landfall in New Jersey, I am urging all New Jerseyans to take every possible and reasonable precaution to ready themselves for the storm’s potential impact," Christie said.

Christie encourages that everyone prepare an emergency action plan for those with special needs in order to keep people from taking unneccessary risks and staying off the roads during the storm. Families and friends who know residents with special needs are encouraged to register them with the state's Special Needs Registry. Registering provides information to emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.

“At the state level, we are taking immediate steps to prepare for the storm’s impact and ensure that state, local and county governments have the tools they need to manage and respond in a coordinated way. With this, government at every level can respond more effectively to conditions on the ground, activate emergency operations plans, and ensure that resources are being marshaled to assist and protect the public through this storm," Christie said.

Declaring a state of emergency activates elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan, broadening powers of the New Jersey State Police including traffic control, limiting access and egress from impacted areas and issuing evacuation orders if needed.

It also authorizes the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management to begin mobilizing and deploying resources to respond to the storm conditions, including resources of the New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Department of Transportation, in coordination with county and municipal emergency management officials in impacted areas throughout the state.

Stay tuned to Patch for continuing updates on Hurricane Sandy.