Acting Gov. Orders 35 Troopers to La. to Assist

WEST TRENTON – Acting Gov. Richard Codey signed an executive order Aug. 31 deploying 35 New Jersey State Police personnel from New Jersey Task Force One, the state’s multi-purpose search and rescue team, to Louisiana, to assist communities affected by hurricane Gustav.
The state Office of Emergency Management, led by State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes and Major Jerome Hatfield, is organizing all personnel and resources related to the mission. All deployments are being made under the provisions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) mutual aid agreement between the states.
“Americans have always been there for one another. After 9/11, help came to New Jersey from all over the country. During Katrina we were able to return the favor and send New Jersey resources to Louisiana. Today we head back to help Louisiana deal with the after effects and severe destruction of Hurricane Gustav,” Codey said. “These individuals who are deploying today are meeting a desperate public service. They are a display of New Jersey at its best and I thank all of them for their hard work and generosity.”
The 35-member team from New Jersey Task Force One will drive in a convoy an estimated 22 hours to Louisiana.
The deployment includes:
· Two New Jersey Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue Teams skilled in swift water rescue
· Inflatable Zodiac Boats
· Flat bottom Boats
Additional administrative personnel will also accompany the team to work in Louisiana’s Emergency Operations Center in a support capacity. The New Jersey Task Force One Swift Water Rescue Team is a dynamic full contingent highly trained and skilled in conducting water rescues highly challenging environments with the ability to be self sufficient up to 72 hours.
The governor’s office and the state Office of Emergency Management, strongly advise New Jersey first responders and other personnel not to depart for the states hit by hurricane Gustav unless those personnel are officially mobilized by the State of New Jersey. Going into a disaster area unassigned can often hinder rescue and recovery efforts, rather than help.
“New Jersey’s thousands of first responders and rescue personnel are extremely dedicated, and we know many are eager to rush down to the Gulf Coast to help those communities recover,” Codey said. “We commend them for their willingness to help. But unless and until they are officially requested those personnel should remain where they are.”
If Louisiana does request additional help from New Jersey via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the Office of Emergency Management will send those responders over in a uniformed and coordinated manner.
The text of the executive order follows:
WHEREAS, there is an imminent threat of destruction and loss of life in the Gulf States, including the States of Louisiana and Mississippi, arising from the approach of Hurricane Gustav; and
WHEREAS, the States of Louisiana and Mississippi along with the State of New Jersey are members of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) (N.J.S.A. 38A:20-4) which requires New Jersey to provide any other Compact member who has suffered a disaster and requests such aid; and
WHEREAS, the States of Louisiana and Mississippi have declared that Emergencies exist and have requested aid from New Jersey under the provisions of EMAC; and
WHEREAS, in order to respond to such requests it may be necessary to employ the resources of State, County and local governments and the private sector; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of this Order will prevent the uncoordinated deployment of emergency and delivery of emergency resources that could endanger the health, safety and resources of the citizens of New Jersey by dangerously depleting the supply of essential materials and services; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution and statutes of the State of New Jersey, particularly the provisions of N.J.S.A App. A:9-33 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 38A:3-6.1 and 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;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting 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 presently exists for the specific purpose of activating the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to coordinate multi-state mutual aid to the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. The State Director of Emergency Management shall implement the State Emergency Operations Plan and shall direct the activation of county and municipal emergency operations plans as necessary to identify resources that are available for response to EMAC requests as authorized by and coordinated through the State Director of Emergency Management.
2. In accordance with the laws of 1942, Chapter 251 (N.J.S.A. App. A:9-34), as supplemented and amended, I reserve the right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State government and of each and every political subdivision of the State, whether of persons, properties or instrumentalities, and to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately owned property necessary to provide a full, prompt and effective utilization of resources to respond to requests from disaster-stricken states.
3. It shall be the duty of every person or entity in this State or doing business in this State and of the members of the governing body and every official, employee or agent of every political subdivision in this State and of each member of all other governmental bodies, agencies authorities in this State of any nature whatsoever, to cooperate fully with the State Director of Emergency Management in all matters.
4. Pursuant to the laws of 1942, Chapter 251, as supplemented and amended (N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40), no municipality, county or other agency or political subdivision of this State shall enact or enforce any order, rule, regulation, ordinance or resolution which will or might in any way conflict with any of the provisions of this Order, or which will in any way interfere with or impede the achievement of the purpose of this Order.
5. In accordance with the laws of 1942, Chapter 251 (N.J.S.A. App. A:9-34), as supplemented and amended, the Governor reserves the right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State government and of each and every political subdivision of the State, whether of persons, properties or instrumentalities, and to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately owned property necessary to provide a full, prompt and effective utilization of resources to respond to requests from disaster-stricken States to protect against this emergency.
6. All persons participating in a response authorized by the State Director of Emergency Management to an EMAC request shall be considered State emergency forces for the purposes of EMAC.
7. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until such time as it is determined that an emergency no longer exists.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 31st day of August, in the year of two thousand and eight and Independence of the United States, the two hundred and thirty-third.
Richard J. Codey
Acting Governor