Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening as fierce storms unleashed by the remnants of Hurricane Ida touched off multiple tornados and caused extensive flooding, damage and power outages.
“Tropical Storm Ida is severely impacting all areas of our state,” said Murphy in a statement. “The safety of our residents is our main priority, and we urge everyone to be informed of local weather conditions and to stay off the roads.”
The declaration issued just after 10 p.m. was effective immediately and applies to all 21 counties.
The governor also announced New Jersey state offices will have a three hour delayed opening on Thursday as a result of the storm.
Multiple tornadoes were reported in Gloucester and Burlington counties on Wednesday evening as the storm pushed into the state along the Delaware River. In North Jersey, relentless rain that started as early as Wednesday morning pounded already saturated areas and caused numerous road closures and some evacuations.
By declaring a state of emergency, the governor urges all nonessential personnel to stay off the roads so not to interfere with law enforcement and emergency responders. An emergency declaration doesn’t mean motorists will be ticketed for merely being on the roads, and “essential” personnel is not defined by law.
Perhaps most importantly, the declaration allows the state to ask for federal assistance or reimbursement for extraordinary expenses.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.