State of New Jersey
Executive Order #121

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, localized heavy rainfall on July 12, 2004 has resulted in severe weather conditions, flooding and power outages, that now threaten homes, dams, bridges and other structures and the flow of traffic in areas of Burlington and Camden Counties in the State; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid weather conditions constitute an imminent hazard which threatens and presently endangers the health, safety and resources of the residents of one or more municipalities or counties of this State; and which is in some parts of the State and may become in other parts of the State too large in scope to be handled by the normal municipal operating services; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and statutes of the State of New Jersey, particularly the provisions N.J.S.A. App. A: 9 33 et seq. and 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, JAMES E. MCGREEVEY, 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 presently exists in Burlington and Camden Counties do hereby order and direct:

  1. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 38A:2-4 and N.J.S.A. 38A:3-6.1, that the Adjutant General order to active duty such members of the New Jersey National Guard that, 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.

  2. The State Director of Emergency Management to implement the State Emergency Operations Plan and to direct the activation of county and municipal emergency operations plans as necessary.

  3. In accordance with N.J.S.A. A:9 33 et seq. as supplemented and amended, that the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, through the police agencies under his control, to determine the control and direction of the flow of such vehicular traffic on any State Highway, municipal or county 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.

  4. In accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9 33 et seq. as supplemented and amended, that the Attorney General, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4 213, acting through the Superintendent of the Division of State Police, determine the control and direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or Interstate highway, and its access roads, including the right to detour, reroute or divert any or all traffic, and to prevent ingress or egress from any area to which the declaration of emergency applies. I further authorize all law enforcement officers to enforce any such orders of the Attorney General and Superintendent of State Police within their respective municipalities.

  5. 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 would present a danger to their health, safety or welfare because of the conditions created by this emergency.

  6. 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 their residences during the course of this emergency.

  7. That the executive head of any agency or instrumentality of the State government with authority to promulgate rules may, for the duration of this Executive Order, subject to my prior approval and in consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management, 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. Any such waiver, modification or suspension shall be promulgated in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-45.

  8. That in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9 34 and N.J.S.A. App. A:9 51, as supplemented and amended, 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. That 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 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.

  11. In accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-34, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.6 and 40A:14-156.4, that no municipality or public or semipublic agency send public works, fire, police, emergency medical or other personnel or equipment into any non-contiguous disaster-stricken municipality within this State nor to any disaster-stricken municipality outside this State unless and until such aid has been directed by the county emergency management coordinator or his deputies in consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management.

  12. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until such time as it is determined by me that an emergency no longer exists.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 13th day
of July in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Four, and of the Independence of the United
States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis

Chief Counsel to the Governor