Springfield Issues Emergency Declaration

Springfield officials want anyone on the road off the road.

As of 12:45 this morning, Springfield closed streets to non-emergency response traffic with an emergency declaration.

Springfield Office of Emergency Management Deputy Coordinator Scott Seidel said the declaration is meant to reinforce warnings that have been commonplace in the past few days.

"People should not be on the road anyway unless they are 'essential'personnel due to the severity of the storm and potential for high winds and flooding," Seidel said. 

The declaration, signed by Seidel and Springfield Mayor Hugh Keffer, is not a call for general evacuation, Seidel said. 

He wrote: Our declaration just reinforces and restates the county's and state's.  http://ucnj.org/union-county-declares-state-of-emergency/  

The full declaration is below. 

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PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL DISASTER I EMERGENCY

To all the citizens and persons with in the municipality of Springfield, New Jersey, and to all departments, divisions and bureaus of the municipal government of Springfield, New Jersey

WHEREAS, pursuant to the powers vested in me 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), and ordinances enacted pursuant thereto; N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1 et. Seq.; -- whichever law or laws apply, and by ordinances adopted by the Springfield, I have declared that a local disaster/emergency exists within the Springfield,; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid laws authorize the promulgation of such orders, rules and regulations, as are necessary to meet the various problems which have or may be presented by such a disaster/emergency; and

WHEREAS, by reason of Hurricane Irene's excessive winds and rainfall conditions which presently exist in certain areas of Springfield, which may affect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Springfield, and

WHEREAS, it has been determined that these areas of the Springfield, should be then declared disaster areas, and further that certain measures must be taken to insure that the authorities will be unhampered in their efforts to maintain law and order as well as an orderly flow of traffic and further to protect the persons and property of the residents affected by the conditions; and

WHEREAS, the following areas are designated disaster areas:

NOW, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH the aforesaid laws, we do hereby promulgate and declare the following regulations shall be in addition to all other laws of the State of New Jersey and of the Township of Springfield, New Jersey,

1) Only essential travel will be permitted on roadways.