COUNTY OF MORRIS
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Process

DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

AUTHORITY:

Emergency Management Act: New Jersey O.E.M. Directives:

Chapter 9 of Appendix A of the Revised Statutes, App. A: 9-1 thru A: 9-63. Specifically App. A 9-40.4 Directive 61. Dated November 19, 1986

DEFINITIONS:

EMERGENCY:
Shall mean and include "disasters" and "war emergencies" as defined in Chapter 438, P.L.1953, Section 3.

A situation occurs that has progressed or is anticipated to progress beyond the capability of regular municipal personnel and resources, assisted by personnel and resources from contiguous municipalities, to maintain order, control and confine the incident.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS:
Actions taken to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people AND to aid in the prevention of damage to and the destruction of property during any emergency, as defined above, by prescribing a course of conduct in order to centralize control of activities having to do with such emergency.

ELEMENTS IN THE DECLARATION PROCESS:

When in the Opinion of the Municipal Coordinator or in his/her absence the Deputy Coordinator, a Disaster/Emergency has occurred or is imminent in the municipality.

ACTIONS:

• The Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator SHALL declare a state of local emergency to exist.
  
  
• The Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator will confer with the Mayor, when contemplating a declaration of a State of Local Emergency and prior to the actual Declaration.
  
  
• As soon as it becomes apparent that the Declaration of a Local State of Emergency may become necessary and prior to issuing the Declaration the Municipal Coordinator SHALL notify the County Office of Emergency Management.
  
  
• Upon issuing a Declaration of a Local State of Emergency, the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator SHALL have complete authority to issue such orders as may be necessary to implement and carry out Emergency Management operations and to protect the health, safety, and resources of the residents of the municipality.
  
  
• Upon issuance of the Declaration a copy will immediately be forwarded to the County Office of Emergency Management.

CONTENTS OF A DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY:

SHALL CONTAIN BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• DATE & TIME of the declaration.
  
  
• DELINEATION of the area included in the declaration.
  
  
• SPECIAL ORDERS associated with the declaration and the reasons justifying these orders.

SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE A DECLARATION:

• Natural Disaster: Winter Storms, Hurricanes, Tornados, and Droughts
  
  
• Man-made Disasters: Civil Unrest, Haz/Mat incidents,
  
  

DELINEATION EXAMPLES:

Exists within the entire municipality, exists within a specific area of the municipality, i.e., from Main Street north to Weston Ave. or from University Ave west to Elmwood Ave.

DELINEATION EXAMPLES:

Special Orders:

• Curfews
• Justification: To provide Law Enforcement personnel the ability to control access to particular areas.
  
  
• Evacuations, partial or full.
• Justification: To remove potential victims from the dangers associated with the incident.
  
  
• Restrict access to certain geographic areas.
• Justification: To allow only emergency response personnel to specific areas.
  
  
• Rationing of resources, i.e., odd/even watering days, odd/even license of resource per pickup period.
• Justification: Provide control over limited resources.
  
  
• Travel Restrictions Prohibiting all NON-EMERGENCY related travel.
• Justification: To protect lives and allow emergency work to be accomplished.
  
  
• Restrictions on vehicle parking.
• Justification: To be able to keep roads clear for emergency response vehicles.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE DECLARATION PROCESS:

• Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator
  Municipal Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
  Chief Elected Official or designee
  Municipal Attorney
  Municipal Department Heads
  County Emergency Management Coordinator

PROCESS OF DECLARING A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

1. Determine that the situation meets the criteria for a declaration.
   
   
2. Confer with Elected Officials, Municipal Attorney, County/State OEM personnel etc.
   
   
3. Determine the specifics and justifications for the declaration.
   
   
4. Prepare, utilizing the sample provided in the basic plan, date and sign the Declaration
   
   
5. Alert the public about the specifics of the declaration.
   
   
6. Notify & send copy of declaration to Morris County OEM.
   
   

RESCINDING DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

When the situation stabilized and there no longer a need have the special orders in effect the Declaration of Emergency must be rescinded. Upon rescinding, notify the Morris County Office of Emergency Management.

DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY BY THE MORRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

The Morris County Emergency Management Coordinator is authorized to declare a state of emergency in the entire county or portion thereof if, in his/her judgment, as a result of natural or unnatural causes, conditions may present severe hazards to life and property.

This may be done even if the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators have NOT declared a state of local emergency.

Upon declaration by the County of a State of Emergency it shall be the duty of each municipal coordinator to comply with the orders of the County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Upon the Declaration of a County State of Emergency the following procedures will apply:

• The County will advise each municipal coordinator of the declaration and all applicable conditions.
  
  
• This notification will be accomplished by notifying the MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCY either by phone, fax or other available means of communication.
  
  

It is the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators responsibility to have in place the process by which he/she will be advised by the Municipal Police Department of the County's actions.

Once notified the Coordinator will contact the Morris County Office of Emergency Management and

• Acknowledge receipt of the notification;
  
  
• Provide emergency contact information, i.e., phone/fax numbers;
  
  
• Provide periodic status updates as requested.

MORRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Normal & Emergency Contact Information
Normal Business Hours

Monday - Friday
0800 - 1700 Hrs
Main Business Phone # 973-829-8600
Main Business Fax # 973-829-8604

MC OEM phone extensions:

Scott DiGiralomo	Coordinator/Marshal	973-829-8600
Ron Graziano	Dep. Coordinator	973-829-8607
Raymond Hayling	Deputy Coordinator	973-829-8606
Keith Heimburg	Deputy Coordinator	973-829-8605
Elaine Caccavale	Secretary/EMS Coordinator	973-829-8601

Non-Business Hours:

Main Business Phone: 973-829-8600 W/Answering Machine

Office E-Mail: oem@co.morris.nj.us

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION OF MCOEM DUTY OFFICER:
Morris County Sheriff's Communications Center 973-285-2900*

*Make sure you give the dispatcher the phone number that you can be called back on.

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