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MILAM & ALBANO BILL TO IMPROVE COASTAL EVACUATION READINESS HEADS TO GOVERNOR

(TRENTON) — Legislation Assemblymen Matthew W. Milam and Nelson T. Albano sponsored to improve evacuation plans throughout the state in preparation for a catastrophic event or natural disaster such as a hurricane or nor’easter received final legislative approval Monday.

The measure was approved 39-0 by the Senate. It had been previously approved 67-0-2 by the Assembly in December.

“While our emergency management officials have done a great job, the state can do more to ensure residents have the tools, services and information they need to be protected if and when disaster strikes,” said Milam (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland).

The Milam/Albano bill (A-3224) stems from the 2008 final report of the Assembly Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force.

“As recent storms show, we can’t afford to wait until after a disaster strikes to improve our preparedness,” said Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “Proper preparation and planning are essential ingredients to successfully surviving a disaster.”

The bill would:

  • Require the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to develop an annual public awareness program to educate the public on the state’s plan to evacuate New Jersey’s coastal areas during emergencies;
  • Require the OEM to work with the state departments of Health and Senior Services, Community Affairs and Human Services to appoint a commission of experts to identify and reserve elementary and secondary schools to serve as temporary emergency shelters, and identify and reserve locations to serve as long-term shelters for individuals displaced from their homes for more than six months;
  • Require the OEM to ensure consistency among evacuation plans of coastal counties by coordinating with county OEMs and the American Red Cross to revise inconsistent plans;
  • Require the OEM to work with each county emergency management coordinator to identify critical infrastructure that would need an alternative emergency power generator;
  • Require counties to create central registries for individuals with special needs who would require assistance during an emergency. The registries would be managed by the county OEMs and would consist of the address, telephone number and particular condition or assistance needs of each registrant;
  • Provide the State Police work with the state Department of Transportation and county emergency management coordinators to implement a lane reversal strategy on the Atlantic City Expressway and Garden State Parkway in preparation for an evacuation during an emergency;
  • Require each Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to include a provision specifically designed to address the needs and facilitate the safe and timely evacuation of the families and dependents of the emergency responders rendering major disaster or emergency services;
  • Require county and municipal EOPs to evaluate evacuation procedures for hospitals and other health care facilities, alternate sources of care for evacuated patients and proposed sites of temporary shelter in an emergency; and
  • Require each EOP to include provisions to address the needs of domestic livestock and domesticated animals during a major disaster.

The legislators have worked with emergency management professionals and volunteers from across the state to develop the legislation.

“The measures would help streamline emergency operations during a disaster, identify buildings as shelters and critical infrastructure and have specific statewide and coastal evacuation plans at the state, county and local levels,” Albano said.

“This is a comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness that will keep our first responders and our residents safe in the event of an actual emergency,” said Milam.

The measure now heads to the governor, who may sign it, veto it or modify it in the form of a conditional veto.