This executive
order terminated by EO #56 Whitman.
WHEREAS, severe
weather conditions on June 12 through June 24, 1996 caused torrential
thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornadoes and high winds which produced
severe flooding, loss of life and widespread destruction of buildings,
roads, trees and crops in the State of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive
field surveys were performed by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA), and the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA), in close coordination with the New Jersey
Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) and other State agencies
and these surveys have evaluated, quantified and verified the extent,
magnitude and impact of these extraordinarily destructive weather
events upon the affected counties; and
WHEREAS, these
weather events pose a continuous threat and constitute a disaster
from a natural cause which threatens and endangers the health, safety
and resources of the residents of more than one municipality and
county of this State and these events have caused damage that is
too large in scope to be handled in its entirety by normal municipal
operating services; and
WHEREAS, the
Constitution and Statutes of the State of New Jersey, particularly
the provisions of the Laws of 1942, Chapter 251 (N.J.S.A. App: 9-30
et seq.) and the Laws of 1979, Chapter 240 (N.J.S.A. 38A:3-6.1)
and the Laws of 1963, Chapter 109 (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;
THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, 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 has occurred and presently exists in the Counties of
Mercer and Burlington.
NOW, THEREFORE,
in accordance with the Laws of 1963, Chapter 109 (N.J.S.A. 38A:2-4),
I hereby authorize the Adjutant General of the New Jersey National
Guard to order to active duty such members of the New Jersey National
Guard that, in his judgment, are necessary to provide aid and recovery
assistance to those localities where there is a threat or danger
to the public health, safety, and welfare. He may authorize the
employment of any supporting vehicles, equipment, communications
or supplies as may be necessary to support the members so ordered.
FURTHERMORE,
in accordance with the Law of 1942, Chapter 251, as supplemented
and amended, I hereby empower the Superintendent of the Division
of State Police, who is the State's Director of Emergency Management,
through the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, to coordinate
the recovery effort from this natural disaster with all Federal,
State, county and local government agencies, volunteer organizations
and the private sector.
FURTHERMORE,
the Superintendent of the Division of State Police is hereby authorized
to order the evacuation of all persons, except for those emergency
and governmental personnel whose presence he 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.
FURTHERMORE,
in accordance with the Laws of 1942, Chapter 251, I reserve the
right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State
government and each and every political subdivision of the State,
whether persons, properties or instrumentalities, necessary to protect
against this emergency.
FURTHERMORE,
I am directing the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with
the Superintendent of the Division of State Police as the State
Director of Emergency Management, to apply to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture for an Agricultural Disaster Declaration and to identify
other available assistance for farmers in the affected areas.
FURTHERMORE,
I am directing the Commissioner of Transportation, in coordination
with the Superintendent of the Division of State Police as the State
Director of Emergency Management, to apply to the Federal Highway
Administration for disaster assistance to repair and restore all
eligible roadways, bridges and culverts in the affected areas.
FURTHERMORE,
I am directing the chairperson of the State Hazard Mitigation Team
to assemble the appropriate local, State and Federal agencies to
evaluate and develop recommendations to reduce the affected areas'
vulnerability to recurrent flooding.
This order
shall take effect immediately and it shall remain in effect until
such time as I determine that an emergency no longer exists.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 28th day of June in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-six and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twentieth.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
GOVERNOR
Attest:
/s/ Harriet
Derman
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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