County Declares Limited State of Emergency, Tolls Lifted on Bridges

The following is an unedited release from the Cape May Couty Public Information Office:
The Cape May County Bridge Commission has lifted tolls on Ocean Drive Bridges effective 2 p.m. Monday, May 12 until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
TO ALL RESIDENTS AND PERSONS WITHIN THE
COUNTY OF CAPE MAY
NEW JERSEY
AND TO ALL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE
COUNTY OF CAPE MAY
MAY 12 -13, 2008 NORTHEAST STORM
COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS (8’ TIDES)
GALE FORCE WINDS (40-45 MPH SUSTAINED)
WHEREAS, pursuant to the powers vested by (Chapter 251 of the laws of 1942 as amended and supplemented, N.J.S.A App. A: 9‑30 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 40:48‑1 (6); N.J.S.A 2c:33‑1 et seq.; whichever law or laws apply, a local disaster emergency is declared to exist within the boundaries of the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY.
WHEREAS, the aforesaid laws authorize the promulgation of such orders, rules and regulations as are necessary to meet the various problems which have occurred or may occur due to such emergency, and
WHEREAS, by reason of the conditions which currently exist in certain areas of the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY, which may affect the health, safety and welfare of the people of the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY, and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that these areas of the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY should then be declared disaster areas and further that certain measures must be taken in order to insure that the authorities as well as maintaining an orderly flow of traffic, and further in order to protect the persons and property of the residents affected by the conditions, and
WHEREAS, the following areas are designated potential disaster areas:
1. The Borough of AVALON, the City of CAPE MAY, THE Borough of CAPE MAY POINT, the Township of DENNIS, the Township of LOWER, the Township of MIDDLE, the City of NORTH WILDWOOD, the City of OCEAN CITY, the City of SEA ISLE CITY, the Borough of STONE HARBOR, the Township of UPPER, the Borough of WEST CAPE MAY, the Borough of WEST WILDWOOD, the City of WILDWOOD, the Borough of WILDWOOD CREST, and the Borough of WOODBINE.
a. Additional resources may be needed to assist with the ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC COMPANY sporadic power outages that can affect all of CAPE MAY COUNTY.
b. Severe beach erosion and back-bay flooding will continue to occur through the next 24 hour period.
c. The Cape May County EMCC is partially activated as of 0400 Monday, May 12, 2008 until further notice.
THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH the aforesaid laws, it is promulgated and declared that the following regulations shall be in addition to all other laws of the State of New Jersey and the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY,
1. As the discretion of the local municipal Emergency Management Coordinator in conjunction with elected and appointed officials, there may be limited traffic traversing the aforesaid area(s) except for movement of police, fire, first aid, public works; and, any other such vehicles or as may be permitted by use or by authorized officials of the COUNTY OF CAPE MAY and the respective affected Municipal Jurisdictions.
2. The COUNTY OF CAPE MAY and its municipalities are activating their respective Alert, Warning and Communications Annexes with the National Weather Service Warnings and will be disseminated using all appropriate communication media.
3. Cape May County and its municipal jurisdiction will use all available local resources such as personnel (including overtime and volunteer staff), all available barricades, variable message board signage, municipal government television broadcast stations use for all cautions and precautions and protective measures to keep people away from dangers beach erosions conditions.
4. Municipal shelters will be opened as deemed appropriate by the local jurisdiction.
5. The County of Cape May will take any and all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the residents and visitors of Cape May County.
Signed: Ralph E. Sheets, Jr.
_______________________________
Ralph E. Sheets, Jr.
Freeholder Vice Director
County of Cape May
Signed: Francis J. McCall
_______________________________
Francis J. McCall
Emergency Management Coordinator
County of Cape May
Date: May 12, 2008 Time: 1400 hours