Three degrees is a scary thing. That’s what the Fahrenheit temperature was according to our indoor-outdoor thermometer Jan. 4 about 5:45 a.m. This has been an unusual winter thus far, but, as with much of the weather here, “If you don’t like it, stick around, it will change in a half hour.”
In the winter of either 1966 or 1967, I recorded a panoramic view of Scotch Bonnet and frozen marshes. So impressed was my dad with the image, he placed it in the living room. It was cold then, and just as cold now. That crossed my mind as I headed to the freeholders’ reorganization Jan. 3. Because of the snow and Gov. Christie’s issuance of a “state of emergency,” we worked from home and “tele-commuted.” When I passed the County Park East Pond, I recalled years ago when youngsters would enjoy ice-skating on that pond.
Three or four days of sub-freezing weather would usually give sufficient ice on that pond to permit that pleasant winter pastime. We haven’t had really cold weather like that for a number of years, or maybe the pond water has so much “stuff” in it that freezing is nearly impossible.
A similar situation used to occur on Lake Lily in Cape May Point. Seems the waterfowl, and especially swans, would act flustered that humans were invading their space on the lake.
Another sign of modern times and weather is the pre-event closure of schools and state offices. Before flake one fell Jan. 3, Atlantic Cape Community College had notified students and staff that classes would be canceled.
All county schools, too, were quick to react and broadcast, pre-snow, that any student’s dream would come true, before they went to bed: No school tomorrow.
Which makes me wonder – again – what would it take to demystify this thing known as a “State of Emergency?” Surely federal employees, fresh from fiscal layoffs because they were deemed “non-essential,” could barely swallow the fact they ought to stay off the roads. How many state employees asked themselves that same chilling inquiry when Christie authorized closing of state offices Jan.3 “for all non-essential employees?”
Who is non-essential? To a spouse, and a breadwinner with children at home, mouths to feed and mortgage to pay, I’d say everyone’s job is essential. If they are “non-essential,” why are they on the payroll in the first place? But that’s not for me to question here. The point is there is a terrible gray cloud that needs defining as we enter the winter when more weather-related closings are likely.
Take it a step farther, why cannot the governor’s order be “airtight?” If the state’s chief executive, in whom power is vested, deems the climate sufficiently bad to issue such a declaration, why is that not justification to shut all public schools and municipal offices? It seems like a no brainer to me, but this is New Jersey. We are the capital of “home rule.” We will be the last to go, kicking and screaming, for anything that takes away local control of anything. Why? Such thinking costs us money that could be saved and spent on more useful ventures.
Why is it necessary for every school district, some which interact with each other, like Dennis and Middle townships, Avalon and Stone Harbor, to individually “make the call” to close school the next day? The governor, it would seem, had already made such a decision. Why skirt his authority?
Could such duplication of effort have something to do with this being a litigious society? If, say, Cape May City Elementary School did not officially cancel classes, and make it known by all media that such was the case, and some student was injured going to school that was shut for the day (I can’t imagine, but it could happen) would there be a lawsuit? What would happen if the governor’s declaration was enough, would such a suit be null and void?
We know from past storm and other weather experiences that it takes a presidential declaration of a disaster to enable federal aid to become available to certain areas. I just ask you to read part of Christie’s latest Executive Order No. 146:
1. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, to activate those elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan that he deems necessary to further safeguard the public security, health, and welfare, to direct the activation of county and municipal emergency operations plans as necessary, and to coordinate the preparation, response, and recovery efforts for this emergency with all governmental agencies, volunteer organizations, and the private sector.
2. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management, in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A: 9-33, et seq., as supplemented and amended, through the police agencies under his control, to determine the control and direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic and to prevent ingress or egress from any area that, in the State Director’s discretion, is deemed necessary for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and to remove parked or abandoned vehicles from such roadways as conditions warrant.
3. I authorize and empower the Attorney General, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4-213, acting through the Superintendent of State Police, to determine the control and direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic, and to prevent ingress or egress and further authorize all law enforcement officers to enforce any such order of the Superintendent of State Police within their respective municipalities.
4. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to order the evacuation of all persons, except for those emergency and governmental personnel whose presence the State Director deems necessary, from any area where their continued presence could present a danger to their health, safety, or welfare because of the conditions created by this emergency.
See what I mean? Seems the order was already given. Why, then, does every school district have to make its own call to cancel classes, or municipal offices to stay shuddered for a day?
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
