CODEY: STATEWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL BE RESCINDED AT 8 PM TODAY

"The Rock" will remain active at Level 2 for specific flood-related events

(TRENTON) – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey announced he will rescind the statewide State of Emergency at 8 p.m. today because flood levels in the flood-affected areas of New Jersey are beginning to recede.

"The hard-hit communities throughout New Jersey are not yet back to normal, but every flooding situation is well under control," Codey said. "We will soon begin to assess the damage and to start the recovery. The State of New Jersey will do everything possible to aid the communities affected by these floods."

Codey continued, "I am extremely impressed by the great work and coordination shown by the New Jersey State Police and the Office of Emergency Management as well as by the New Jersey National Guard, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Division of Fire Safety and Board of Public Utilities, and by the county and local offices of emergency management and first responders, who carried our communities through these very difficult events."

Colonel Rick Fuentes, the Superintendent of State Police and Director of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, announced that the Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC, "The Rock") will step down from its current Level 3 activation to Level 2.

The Level 2 activation means personnel will continue to monitor specific situations in areas that are still affected by flooding as water continues to recede. There are five levels of ROIC activation, including Level 1 for normal operations.

"The past few days have shown just how well prepared New Jersey is for any type of emergency," Fuentes said. "The county and local responders in Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and the other affected counties all did outstanding jobs for their communities and for the entire state."

The National Weather Service has announced that flood warnings continue for southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, and for the following rivers and locations:

• The Passaic River near Chatham, Pine Brook and Little Falls
• The Ramapo River near Pompton Lakes and Mahwah
• The Metedeconk River near Lakewood
• The Rancocas Creek near Pemberton

The following are some highlights from the hardest-hit areas.

Bergen County
• Oakland: 115 homes were affected and about 100 people evacuated. Flood waters are receding.
• Lodi: About 100 people were evacuated from 15 homes and two senior citizen centers. Water is receding and residents are returning.

Burlington County
• Lumberton: 11 people were evacuated. The municipality declared a local state of emergency.
• Easthampton: 12 people were evacuated.

Essex County
• Fairfield: Five families evacuated after the announcement of a voluntary evacuation.

Monmouth County
• Loch Arbour: 35 people were evacuated. About 30 homes are without power. Water levels are now receding, and at least two of six flooded blocks are now clear of water. Damage assessment operations will begin when water levels subside.
• Ocean Township: 104 people were evacuated in the area of the Poplar Village Senior Citizens Center. 22 apartment units are reported as uninhabitable.
• Belmar: A 5-block area has been evacuated with about 300 homes affected. Water is receding.
• Spring Lake: A mandatory evacuation was ordered for 350 homes.
• Wall Township: 12 homes were evacuated.

Passaic County
• Pompton Lakes: Prior evacuees have returned to their homes. Water levels are receding.
• Wayne Township: About 80-95 people have been evacuated.
• Paterson: Eight people were evacuated.

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