New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared a State of Emergency Saturday, more than 24 hours ahead of the expected start of the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
Christie has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the barrier islands from Sandy Hook south to Cape May by 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon. He has also ordered the casinos in Atlantic City to be evacuated by that same time.
Shelters have been opened in 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. The American Red Cross will be opening a shelter at Upper Township Middle School in Cape May. That shelter will be fully operational by Sunday morning. The Woodvine Developmental Center will also be a shelter in Cape May County. Christie is urging residents to take shelter in their homes. For those whose homes are threatened, they’re being encouraged to use the county shelters as their “shelter of first resort.”
Christie says all 21 county aging agencies are coordinating with their county offices of emergency management, and will assist in any evacuations of elderly residents, especially from the coastal areas near the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay.
One of the steps the state is taking to reduce flooding is to lower the water levels in half a dozen drinking water reservoirs. City and county governments are being asked to clear roads and storm drains of leaves so the drains don’t become clogged, which would exacerbate flooding problems. State parks will be closed at noon on Sunday.
You can watch Gov. Christie’s full press conference today in Monmouth County by clicking here.
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