State Offices are closed on Tuesday

Trenton, NJ –Governor Chris Christie today authorized the closure of all State Offices for Tuesday, October 30, 2012 as a result of the dangerous and deteriorating weather conditions across the state associated with the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Non-essential employees should not report for their normal day shift tomorrow. Essential employees should report to work on schedule. All notifications are currently being made and coordinated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in an expeditious manner.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Board of Public Utilities as well as various State agencies will continue to monitor the storm and continue statewide cleanup efforts until the event concludes. New Jerseyans are encouraged to comply with orders and guidance from their local emergency management and government officials in preparing for the storm and to avoid any unnecessary risks when the storm makes landfall.

Drivers are advised to stay off of the roads whenever possible and otherwise drive with caution, follow the rules of the road, stay alert and respect the weather elements and the guidance and orders of emergency management and government officials.  Unnecessary travel is not recommended.

Motorists are encouraged to check for current road conditions and closures at the New Jersey Department of Transportation website: www.NJ511.info.

For more storm preparedness information please log on to: www.ready.nj.gov

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Christie Administration Encourages School Closings on Tuesday

Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf released the following statement today, encouraging closure of schools to ensure student safety in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy:

“In light of the worsening conditions due to Hurricane Sandy, I am strongly encouraging all superintendents and charter schools across the state to cancel school tomorrow. While we respect that these decisions need to be made at the local level, all indications are that the worst of the storm will be hitting New Jersey this evening and tomorrow, and it is of the utmost importance that we consider the safety of our students, school staff and district personnel at this time. Again, the decision remains a local one, but I cannot be any clearer: the effects of the storm are only going to get worse and it is in everyone’s best interest for districts and charters to cancel school tomorrow.”

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Your generator won’t start. Now what?

By Mike Allen, The Saturday Mechanic

You put your generator away after Irene, carefully stored in your shed under a tarp, in fact. With the emergency, it’s time to haul it out and keep the lights on. Cool, still more than half a tank full. Fuel tap on, choke on, switch on. And yank.

And yank. Yank until you’re blue in the face. No go. Okay, how about a little ether sprayed into the intake? That makes it cough and run for a few seconds, but never longer. You’re too tired to pull the rope anymore, it’s getting dark, the news is saying that the power is going off pretty much at random. And it’s raining harder every minute. You’re screwed. And in the dark until further notice.

What’s wrong? More importantly, what can you do now, instead of hauling the thing off for repair next week after the emergency is over?

Read the rest of this entry »

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Governor Chris Christie Announces Tuesday Closure of State Offices as a Result of Hurricane Sandy’s Weather Conditions

Trenton, NJ –Governor Chris Christie today authorized the closure of all State Offices for Tuesday, October 30, 2012 as a result of the dangerous and deteriorating weather conditions across the state associated with the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Non-essential employees should not report for their normal day shift tomorrow. Essential employees should report to work on schedule. All notifications are currently being made and coordinated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in an expeditious manner.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Board of Public Utilities as well as various State agencies will continue to monitor the storm and continue statewide cleanup efforts until the event concludes. New Jerseyans are encouraged to comply with orders and guidance from their local emergency management and government officials in preparing for the storm and to avoid any unnecessary risks when the storm makes landfall.

Drivers are advised to stay off of the roads whenever possible and otherwise drive with caution, follow the rules of the road, stay alert and respect the weather elements and the guidance and orders of emergency management and government officials.  Unnecessary travel is not recommended.

Motorists are encouraged to check for current road conditions and closures at the New Jersey Department of Transportation website: www.NJ511.info.

For more storm preparedness information please log on to: www.ready.nj.gov

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Highlands reverse 9-11: Get out of town or your life is in danger

The Borough of Highlands issued a “Catostrophic” storm warning urging all residents to leave down because of coming storm surge waves and winds over 85 mph.

“Failure to following these instructions puts your life in danger”

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Christie Administration Activates Volunteer Emergency Response Hotline

Volunteers Asked to Call 1-800-JERSEY-7

Trenton, NJ – New Jersey residents can help their neighbors recover from storm damage Hurricane Sandy may cause by volunteering in their communities. Depending on the severity of the approaching storm, volunteers may be needed to help with a variety of clean-up activities.

“During Hurricane Irene, I saw firsthand how individual New Jerseyans worked selflessly to help others during a crisis,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “Based on what we learned, we established this volunteer emergency response hotline to enhance our responsiveness during emergencies and better organize volunteers.  Today we’re activating the hotline so that our state is prepared to direct volunteers where help may be needed.”

If you are interested in volunteering, call the state’s volunteer emergency response hotline at 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397).  This hotline was established earlier this year to enhance the state’s emergency responsiveness by harnessing New Jerseyans’ strong spirit of service.

If storm conditions preclude the hotline from being answered by live operators, volunteers may call one of two backup hotline numbers: 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471.  Volunteers may also send an email to [email protected].

If you are already a trained volunteer affiliated with an emergency response organization, please contact that agency to register your readiness to receive an assignment.

This hotline is managed by the New Jersey Business Action Center and the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism.  Both divisions are within the New Jersey Department of State.

Calls placed to the hotline will be received by the Business Action Center, which will work with the Office of Volunteerism and NJ AmeriCorps to match and direct volunteers where help is needed.  When live operators are not available, callers can leave a voicemail message that includes their place of residence, availability and skills.

Those who need help from volunteers and other services may call 211 or go online at www.nj211.org.

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View from the hill in Highlands

Click on photo for full view

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Water up to the seawall in Sea Bright

Photo by Charles Measley

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High Tide in Neptune

Photos by Jim Granelli

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Christie Briefing at 12:15

Governor Chris Christie has a press briefing regarding Hurriane Sandy scheduled for 12:15.

MMM will have Livestream coverage.

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