Congressman Frank Pallone told residents of Highlands that the devastation they’re suffering through is the worst that he has seen as he has toured his district.
In introducing the congressman to the residents attending an Emergency Information Meeting, Mayor Frank Nolan said that Pallone had been instrumental in getting federal assistance through FEMA to come to town.
Pallone pledge his support in rebuiling the community.
Following the public information session, Pallone met privately with members of the governing body to discuss funding for emergency housing for displaced residents.
Governor Called for Plans Yesterday to Give Affected Families Certainty and Accountability for Getting Their Power Back On
Trenton, NJ –Governor Chris Christie today released revised power restoration plans received from the three major power utility companies in the state in order to create greater certainty, transparency and accountability for New Jerseyans. PSEG, Jersey Central Power and Light and Atlantic City Electric provided plans at the Governor’s request to show restoration projections at the municipal level for the next 2 days in order to give New Jersey households and businesses, who continue to be affected by power outages, greater certainty as to when their power needs will be met.
“While progress has been made in restoring power to many businesses, households, and critical infrastructure in the aftermath of Sandy, there are still over 1.25 million customers without power,” said Governor Christie. “So many New Jerseyans have demonstrated significant patience and resilience through the storm and this initial recovery period, and it is our obligation to get them back online and with the certainty of a timeline they can reliably plan their lives around in the coming days.”
PDF copies of revised service restoration plans from PSEG, JCP&L and ACE can be found attached to this email.
The public can access these plans and see when service is expected to be restored in their area by visiting the State of New Jersey website, www.nj.gov, clicking on the Hurricane Sandy Information Center, and selecting the link to the power utility company that serves their region.
The plans can also be accessed at the below websites:
As of 7:00 a.m. this morning, 1,269,564 customers remained without power statewide, down from a high of 2.7 million through the storm and its immediate aftermath. Governor Christie has met personally with each of the CEOs of the three major utility companies and continues to talk with them daily to discuss restoration efforts and create accountability for New Jersey customers. Each utility company has a representative on-site at the State Police Regional Operation and Intelligence Center (ROIC) to work with state government and emergency management officials, develop action plans and troubleshoot problems as they occur.
There are currently over 16,000 mutual aid/work crews both from in state and out of state on the ground in New Jersey working to reestablish power. Additional crews continue to come in to New Jersey from out of state to assist with the effort.
Governor Christie responded to the report on WAFF-TV, Huntsville, Alabama by saying the workers traveling from Alabama never made it to New Jersey and that they were given bad information while traveling north.
Chrisite said that he would invoke his powers under the Disaster Control Act to prevent any qualified workers being turned away, but that he has been assured he does not need to take that step.
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie took action to prevent a fuel shortage and ease the problem of extended wait times and lines at gas stations by signing Executive Order 108, declaring a limited state of energy emergency with regard to the supply of motor fuel and implementing odd-even rationing for gasoline purchases in 12 New Jersey counties. Odd-even fuel sales will take effect in the following counties at noon on November 3, 2012: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.
“As New Jerseyans continue the long process of recovering from Hurricane Sandy, it’s imperative that our families have secure, reliable access to essential supplies like fuel. Right now, the impact of the storm, particularly the continuance of widespread power outages, has created the disorderly sale of gas – including long lines, out of operation stations, and stations facing shortages,” said Governor Christie. “This system will ease the strain on those gas stations still operating, while we work to bring more online for the public to access fuel, in a manner that is fair, easy to understand, and less stressful.”
Once in effect, all retail dealers of motor fuel will be required to only sell motor fuel for use in a passenger automobile bearing license plates, the last number of which is an even number, on even numbered days of each month. Likewise sales will only be permitted to passenger automobiles bearing license plates ending in odd numbers on odd numbered days of the month. Specialized plates – or those not displaying a number – will be considered odd numbered plates.
Governor Christie and Attorney General Jeff Chiesa pledged to aggressively and vigorously enforce the order to ensure compliance and the effectiveness of the policy in the affected counties.
“The orderly and reliable sale of gas to our residents is essential to maintaining a steady and reliable source of power for both transportation and the maintenance of essential services at home. With the challenges we face in the storm’s aftermath, we will be vigilant in enforcing this odd-even system, as we ease the stresses on the system,” said Attorney General Jeffery S. Chiesa. “I encourage all New Jerseyans to abide by this system – motorists and retail dealers alike – to ease wait times and improve access for everyone. Those who choose to disregard this order will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted under the Governor’s state of emergency authority.”
These sales provision will remain in effect for as long as the Governor’s limited declared state of energy emergency is in effect in those 12 counties.
Trenton, NJ – The Christie Administration is encouraging New Jersey voters to take advantage of the extended weekend hours at New Jersey’s county elections offices to cast their vote before Election Day. Registered New Jersey voters can vote in-person by visiting their county clerk’s office no later than 3 pm Monday. Once they receive a ballot from their clerk’s office, voters will be able to complete their ballot and immediately deliver it to their county board of elections office. In a directive issued yesterday by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, county election offices are to remain open, at a minimum, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm beginning November 2 until November 5, and are to take all reasonable measures to inform voters of the extended hours.
“The extent of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction is impossible to fully describe,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno, who serves as Secretary of State and is responsible for overseeing the Division of Elections. “For many New Jerseyans, the hurricane’s impact may have made Election Day the last thing on their minds, but we want to make voting as easy as possible considering the devastating circumstances. Despite the devastation that surrounds many of our citizens, we are committed to upholding and honoring our nation’s ideals and having an open and transparent election.”
Trenton, NJ –This morning, Governor Christie announced that he is rescinding an order that closed Atlantic City casinos in preparation for Hurricane Sandy, while also lifting the mandatory evacuation order for Atlantic City residents. The Governor was notified by Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck that the order reinstating certificates of operation for the twelve casinos was signed within minutes of the Governor’s lifting of the mandatory evacuation order for the residents of Atlantic City, originally issued on October 27, 2012.
The order grants the casinos permission to recommence casino gaming and wagering activities on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Division investigators and personnel have been assigned to each property to ensure compliance with internal control procedures and to complete a final authorization to commence operations.
“The Director has indicated that a complete review and assessment of the status and condition of each casino property, including the casino floors, its equipment, surveillance, security and gaming related computer systems have been completed,” said Governor Christie. “I have extreme confidence in Division of Gaming Enforcement staff as they begin the re-opening process of gaming operations in Atlantic City.”
“This has been an extremely difficult time for the City of Atlantic City and the State of New Jersey,” said Division Director Rebuck. “The cooperation of Governor Christie, state and local officials and the casino executives has been outstanding and we commend all those who have responded and worked with our staff throughout the events of Hurricane Sandy.”
“Maintaining the integrity of casino operations is paramount. We will continue ongoing dialogue with the properties to ensure a smooth and cohesive re-opening as quickly as possible,” said Rebuck
Congressman Frank Pallone told residents of Highlands that the devastation they’re suffering through is the worst that he has seen as he has toured his district.