TRENTON — Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, today declared that Hurricane Irene is no longer a threat to New Jersey.
Colonel Fuentes and Major John Hunt, supervisor of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), called the Office’s monitoring of Irene a success.
“We are fortunate that Irene passed us by, but the hurricane season is not over,” Major Hunt said. “As always, we are watching the weather to keep New Jersey ahead of all possible threats, and we are ready to help our residents safely negotiate any development.”
New Jersey Regional Operations and Intelligence Center (ROIC) personnel monitored Irene throughout the weekend and kept in constant contact with the National Weather Service, with FEMA officials, and with representatives of each New Jersey county.
The Office of Emergency Management will continue to watch Irene as it moves away from the East Coast, and continues to monitor all developing weather patterns.
The Office of Emergency Management, located at the West Trenton State Police Headquarters, tracks all natural or man-made disasters that could create a public safety threat for New Jersey residents. The Office of Emergency Management is in place to assist and support county and municipal officials during times of emergency.
As the hurricane season continues, residents can find preparedness tips and evacuation routes by going to the State Police website at www.njsp.org, clicking on the Office of Emergency Management icon, then clicking on the Hurricane Safety icon. Some tips include:
- Have batteries and flashlights available in case of a power outage
- Prepare to store water for drinking and washing in containers and in your bathtub
- Prepare an emergency kit to take in case you have to evacuate
- Identify and prepare the transportation you would use to evacuate
- Know your threat and the evacuation route to use
- Evacuate when recommended by emergency management officials
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