State of New Jersey
Executive Order #53

Governor Christine Todd Whitman

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