TRENTON
-- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced
today that the Department of Law and Public
Safety has entered into a working arrangement
with the New Jersey State Bar Association
(NJSBA) that provides a framework for
cooperative effort in the delivery of
public, and private emergency legal services
to those affected by mass disasters.
"As
the September 11th attacks reminded us,
mass-scale disaster is a potential reality
we all live with, and we at the Department
of Law and Public Safety stand ready to
work with the NJSBA and similar groups
to provide disaster survivors with pro
bono legal help," Harvey said. "This
cooperative protocol with the Bar Association
can only enhance the delivery of such
services. By communicating efficiently
and coordinating our respective efforts,
we can serve disaster victims as effectively,
and as compassionately as possible."
Karol Corbin Walker, President of the
NJSBA, noted that, in the wake of a mass-scale
disaster, survivors often need guidance
with such issues as insurance claims,
probate matters, landlord-tenant concerns,
preparing powers of attorney, consumer
protection and mortgage foreclosure matters,
and dealing with building restoration
and other repair contractors.
"In
the aftermath of a major disaster, many
victims find themselves dealing with significant
damage to their homes and businesses or,
worse, the loss of loved ones," said
Corbin Walker.
"For this reason, it is vital that
any legal assistance we provide them be
delivered efficiently, and with compassion.
This new working arrangement to expand
the existing NJSBA Mass Disaster Response
Program with the State will help us achieve
that goal."
The NJSBA established a Mass Disaster
Response Program in 1995 following a pipeline
explosion that left many with nowhere
to run for competent and objective legal
guidance. The program has been utilized
in recent years to assist victims of the
Hurricane Floyd and World Trade Center
disasters.
The cooperative arrangement between the
State and the NJSBA will be activated
when a "mass disaster" occurs.
For purposes of the new protocol, mass
disaster means an emergency declared by
the Governor pursuant to the New Jersey
Disaster Control Act -- or a declaration
of disaster or emergency by the President
under applicable federal law -- that pertains
to an incident resulting in the death,
injury or displacement of a substantial
number of people.
Under the new working arrangement, both
the Department of Law and Public Safety
and the NJSBA have designated principals
to be contacted in the event of such a
disaster.
Attorney General Harvey explained that,
should a disaster occur, representatives
of the NJSBA and the Department of Law
and Public Safety will share information
about the steps they are poised to take
in response to the incident, and will
identify the respective roles that both
Bar Association volunteers and Department
personnel will play.
In any scenario, the Attorney General
noted, the cooperative efforts of the
NJSBA and the Department will be coordinated
with the State Office of Emergency Management
and, in the event of a federal emergency,
with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
According to Harvey, the new protocol
sets forth a mechanism for credentialing
NJSBA volunteers in the event they need
access to a disaster area that has been
otherwise restricted. Under the protocol,
NJSBA principal contacts will work through
their Department of Law and Public Safety
counterparts to arrange for credentials,
and to learn where NJSBA volunteers must
report in order to gain access to citizens
in need.
The protocol identifies the NJSBA as coordinator
of emergency efforts with those of other
county and state bar associations and
includes the reasonable expectation that
the NJSBA will inform the Department of
such coordination. The NJSBA is also designated
to work with law firms and volunteers
to prepare and update a legal guide for
victims of a mass disaster.
In addition, the NJSBA and Department
of Law and Public Safety will cooperatively
identify and implement any other beneficial
legal procedures or remedies that may
be streamlined for the benefit of mass
disaster victims.
"I
want to thank Bar Association President
Karol Corbin Walker, as well as former
president Daniel Waldman, for their vision,
and for their hard work, in bringing this
project to fruition," said the Attorney
General. "This Disaster Protocol
grew, in particular, out of the efforts
of former NJSBA president Daniel Waldman
to work with and through state officials
to meet the needs of Sept. 11 victims.
Now, future disaster survivors will benefit
as well. The Bar Association has been,
and will continue to be, a true partner
with us in helping to meet the many and
varied legal needs of our citizens in
times of mass disaster."
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