New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency in New Jersey in advance of the threat posed by Hurricane Joaquin. The governor urged New Jersey residents not to panic, but to remain prepared for the storm during a Friday afternoon press conference.
“I don’t think we’re going to have to do much to prepare for Joaquin. We’re already prepared for Joaquin,” Christie said. “We started 48 hours to prepare for Joaquin, we dont see at this point any indication from the National Weather Service that Joaquin is going to come on shore here in New Jersey or with the exception of some high tides and beach erosion, going to have any real effect on New Jersey. If that changes, if the storm suddenly makes a westwardly turn, we’re already prepared for that and we’re not letting our guard down until we know that Joaquin is well out to sea and poses no risk to people in New Jersey.”
Christie said he decided to declare a state of emergency in order to make sure the necessary resources were ready in case of a natural disaster, and added that, “It doesn’t mean there’s an emergency at the moment.”
The governor directed New Jersey residents to the state’s website for more information, and said everyone who lives along the coastline should develop a plan in case of emergency.
Christie, who ranks seventh in the Washington Examiner‘s most recent power rankings, has received criticism from right-leaning voters for his “hug” with President Obama in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy’s traumatic effect on New Jersey in 2012. During the first GOP presidential debate earlier this year, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul sparred with Christie and referenced the “big hug” Christie gave Obama before the 2012 election. On Friday, Christie said Democrats and Republicans in New Jersey would work together to protect the state’s residents.
“The men and women you see standing with me are united together, regardless of politial party, that our first and biggest job is to protect the lives and the safety of the people of the state of New Jersey,” Christie said. “The state of New Jersey knows how to deal with these things, unfortunately we’ve dealt with them before. Looks like we’re dodging a bullet this time, let’s keep our fingers crossed that that continues for the next 24 to 48 hours. If it does, we can count our blessings because we know what happens when we don’t get lucky. We’ve lived through that. None of us want to live through that again. So let’s keep our fingers crossed, say our prayers where appropriate, and hopefully in the next 48 hours we’ll be counting our blessings that we dodged a bullet on this one.”
