Full Notification

WHEREAS, beginning on January 2, 2014 the State of New Jersey is expected to experience a severe winter storm with high winds, heavy snow, mixed precipitation, dangerous storm surges, and sub-zero temperatures throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, this severe winter storm is predicted to produce hazardous travel conditions, cause fallen trees and power outages, and produce potential coastal, stream, and river flooding throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, this severe winter storm is expected to result in dangerous conditions across New Jersey for several days, impeding transportation and the normal operation of public and private entities; and

WHEREAS, the impending weather conditions may make it difficult or impossible for citizens to obtain the necessities of life, as well as essential services such as police, fire, and first aid; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to take action in advance of the storm to lessen the threat to lives and property in this State; and

WHEREAS, the impending weather conditions constitute an imminent hazard, which threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and resources of the residents of one or more municipalities and counties of this State; and

WHEREAS, this situation may become too large in scope to be handled by the normal county and municipal operating services in some parts of this State, and this situation may spread to other parts of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and statutes of the State of New Jersey, particularly the provisions of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33, et

seq.,  N.J.S.A.  38A:3-6.1,  and  N.J.S.A.  38A:2-4,  and  all

amendments and supplements thereto, confer upon the Governor of the State of New Jersey certain emergency powers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRIS CHRISTIE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey, DO DECLARE and PROCLAIM that a State of Emergency exists in the State of New Jersey and I hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

1.      I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, to activate those elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan that he deems necessary to further safeguard the public security, health, and welfare, to direct the activation of county and municipal emergency operations plans as necessary, and to coordinate the preparation, response, and  recovery efforts for this emergency with all governmental agencies, volunteer organizations, and the private sector.

2.      I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management, in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33, et    seq.,     as    supplemented    and  amended,  through  the  police agencies under his control, to determine the control and direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic and to prevent ingress or egress from any area that, in the State Director's discretion, is deemed necessary for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and to remove parked or abandoned vehicles from such roadways as conditions warrant.

3.    I authorize and empower the Attorney General, pursuant to    the  provisions of  N.J.S.A.  39:4-213, acting  through  the Superintendent of State Police, to determine the control and direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic, and to prevent ingress or egress and further authorize all law enforcement officers to enforce any such order of the Superintendent of State Police within their respective municipalities.

4.      I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to order the evacuation of all persons, except for those emergency and governmental personnel whose presence the State Director deems necessary, from any area where their continued presence could present a danger to their health, safety, or welfare because of the conditions created by this emergency.

5.      I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to utilize all facilities owned, rented, operated, and maintained by the State of New Jersey to house and shelter persons who may need to be evacuated from a residence, dwelling, building, structure, or vehicle during the course of this emergency.

6.     I authorize and empower the executive head of any agency or instrumentality of the State government with authority to promulgate rules to waive, suspend, or modify any existing rule, the enforcement of which would be detrimental to the public welfare during this emergency, notwithstanding the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act or any law to the contrary for the duration of this Executive Order, subject to my prior approval and in consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management. Any such waiver, modification, or suspension shall be promulgated in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-45.

7.     I authorize and empower the Adjutant General, in accordance         with    N.J.S.A. 38A:2-4  and  N.J.S.A.  38A:3-6.1, to order to active duty such members of the New Jersey National Guard who, in the Adjutant General’s judgment, are necessary to provide aid to those localities where there is a threat or danger to the public health, safety, and welfare and  to authorize the employment of any supporting vehicles, equipment, communications, or supplies as may be necessary to support the members so ordered.

8.     In  accordance with  N.J.S.A. App.  A:9-34 and  -51,  I reserve the right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State government and of each and every political subdivision of the State, whether of persons, properties, or instrumentalities, and to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately owned property necessary to protect against this emergency.

9.      In   accordance  with   N.J.S.A.   App.   A:9-40,   no municipality, county, or any other agency or political subdivision of this State shall enact or enforce any order, rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution, which will or might in any way conflict with any of the provisions of this Order, or which will in any way interfere with or impede the achievement of the purposes of this Order.

10.    It shall be the duty of every person or entity in this State or doing business in this State and of the members of the governing body and every official, employee, or agent of every political subdivision in this State and of each member of all other governmental bodies, agencies, and authorities in this State of any nature whatsoever, to cooperate fully with the State Director of Emergency Management in all matters concerning this state of emergency.