Christie on Hurricane Sandy: 'I Feel Like the Disaster Governor'
Governor issues state of emergency in advance of storm, says state well-prepared after past severe weather events.
Gov. Chris Christie at a press conference in North Middletown on Saturday addressing the state's preparations for Hurricane Sandy.
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Gov. Chris Christie has a message for New Jersey residents doubting the severity of the Hurricane Sandy forecast: prepare for the worst. The governor declared a weather-related state of emergency before holding a press conference in front of the East Keansburg Fire Company in North Middletown on Saturday morning.
“We should not assume the predictions should be wrong,” Christie said “When the storm comes, if it’s as bad as they're predicting it will be, you’re going to wish you weren’t as cynical as you might have otherwise been. I’m not trying to be an alarmist here. I want everybody to be ready. I want your families to be safe and I want us to be able to do our jobs the right way.”
Christie ordered the mandatory evacuation of Barrier Island residents from Ocean County through Cape May County by 4 p.m. on Sunday. Eastbound roadways leading to Barrier Islands will be closed at that time. Atlantic City casinos must also be evacuated by Sunday afternoon.
Other shoreline residents may want to consider leaving voluntarily if it makes sense for them to do so, according to Christie.
“Certainly, I think folks along the shoreline who are not on the Barrier Islands should consider voluntary evacuation. That’s going to be based on do they have friends or relatives to evacuate to,” he said. I don’t think at this point these are people who are going to need to evacuate to shelters.”
Christie noted that Hurricane Sandy was expected to stay in the area for a longer period of time than Irene, leading to the possibility of a more severe impact on the state than the August 2011 hurricane.
“Irene came in and left pretty quickly. This is not scheduled to come in and leave quickly. If we really have sustained hurricane-force winds along the shoreline for 48 hours or 60 hours, we’re going to be looking at some pretty severe damage to the shore,” Christie said.
In preparation for the storm, the governor ordered four reservoir systems in northern New Jersey to be drawn down Friday evening and for releases to be made from Pompton Lake and Lake Hopatcong. Shelters will be established in 18 of the state’s 21 counties with the capacity for 12,000 residents, and if required, five state locations can be opened as shelters with the capacity for an additional 5,000 residents, according to Christie. New Jersey residents who evacuate their homes should seek shelter with family and friends and only use the county- and state-run shelters as a last resort, the governor said.
After leading the state through a severe December 2010 snowstorm, Hurricane Irene, and a sudden snowstorm last October, Christie said he and state emergency response leaders believe they are ready to issue swift response to Hurricane Sandy.
“I feel like the disaster governor,” Christie joked. “For better or worse, we can speak about this in shorthand now. We’ve gone through this stuff before. It doesn’t mean we’re going to get everything right, but what it means is we think we’re anticipating all the right things.”
suz
4:43 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Why must people like you make such stupid comments in this time of worry? You perhaps need a life?
ray
5:01 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
What we need is a governor who is more interested in his state than his party.
George
6:36 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
It is a cogent, pertinent observation, and so is the one below.
.
4:45 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
If he feels like the disaster governor, then it is time for him to go.
ray
5:00 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Well, at least Christie came back from the campaign trail. I guess he figures a disaster is a good excuse for him to be in the state that pays his salary. How long do you think he'll stay before he's back stumping for Mitt and his partner in crime, Ryan?
sickofcrooks
7:57 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Hopefully he will be gone until the election. Whatever he can do to help get Romney elected is just fine.
Bill Storm,
5:12 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
reply to Ray.
Maybe this is to far back for you to remember. We all ready got rid of him. Or you forgot about TAX & SPEND, 500% toll increase, Corzine. Also the millions he gave to democrates so they could be reelected to support his CRAZY ideas.
Mrs. G.
5:20 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
He is already the distaster governor: check out the NJ unemployment rate against the national rate. And, don't say it is Corzine's doing. This govenor has been at the helm long enough to move the numbers downward IF his policies REALLY did work.
suz
5:26 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Let me be clear...now is NOT this time to express your political views. You should all be making sure you and your family and neighbors are safe and secure not bashing the governor. If you have time to bash, you need a life!
Speki
7:01 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Exactly SUZ ... exactly !!!
Mrs. G.
11:04 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Let me make this clear: Last I looked, in America we have freedom of speech. Anytime, anywhere.
bethellen514
11:08 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Couldnt have said it better myself!!
m mccauley
5:33 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
i could not have it said better 'I Feel Like the Disaster Governor'
Dawn
7:19 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
What we need is for people to have COMMON SENSE and follow the directions of those in charge of public safety. The orders given, are nothing more then COMMON SENSE, to protect people (and those who need to protect and serve......police, fire, first aid). If the latter get hurt trying to help those who were oppositional it creates nothing but DANGER for all involved. It is better to be safe then sorry.
ray
8:44 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Ok why do we pay him to be out of state when we pay to run New Jersey
suz
8:46 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
If you don't understand the answer to that question then its not worth explaining.
suz
8:49 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Are you a teacher?
ray
8:54 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Suz wins the "copout of the day award."
ray
8:48 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
And yes storm I do remember but that doesn't change the fact that I want to get rid of this guy for wasting our money too
ray
8:57 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Suz this is the forum to express your opinion if you don't like it don't say anything shoot you should not be telling people what to say about anything
ray
9:01 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Suz this is public forum inviting people to talk and you should not be telling people what should say
suz
9:35 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
See I hit a nerve, huh? Yes, Ray, you are entitled to your opinion. No, I am not telling people what they should say...I too am expressing my opinion, right? That is exactly what makes the country a great place to live. I just feel some comments are just childish and immature.
chris Christie
10:18 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
It was so nice of Christie to stay around while his state is being destroyed. Remember the blizzard???? Well Christie sure doesn't, he was talking with Mickey. How much time does he actually stay in state?
tony demarest
7:54 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
At least, he will be here- whether that's a plus or not, we will just have to see- what a waste of 175000$
ray
10:54 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Suz make no mistake I know this is a great country I respect your right to say anything you want I just thought you were trying to say that other people shouldn't talk that way
ray
10:58 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Also as far as time to bash nobody's bashing the governor just dating facts and I already took care of my prep for the storm thank you for caring
Mapleleafnj
12:29 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Glad everyone has time to spew garbage about the mean fat governor while our smug face prez runs around the country smearing to hide from his record. Christie's not perfect, would you prefer Corzine? Fact is he's better then the last 4 governors which does not say much, especially NJ voters who continue to send the same jack-wholes back to office year after year. menendez your guy too? great choice there, he's done such a bang up job too. Where is he during all this? Still campaigning cus he may actually lose to a complete no name....Where is the fossil Lautenberg? you would think they would at least drop off a bottle of water at a Shelter. Anyhoot rant over .... Be safe everyone even though we may disagree .....
foggyworld
1:37 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
I like the Governor but he just may be overreacting and it isn't helping a thing. Ocean County is now declared to be a "storm area" not a hurricane area and so far it's all acting the way Nor'easters do.
Sometimes it's worth really watching al the great weather coverage on the internet before one speaks. Governor, we have Nor'easters every winter and get by with out all of this hoopla. There is panic buying going on and people are genuinely frightened of what for most of us may turn out to be just another old heavy rain storm. The predicted high of 57 mph winds tomorrow is very far from being hurricane material.
Peter W Bennett
2:03 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
check out http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/phi.php for winds, wind gusts, precip. and more.
Local
2:09 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
ChristieTakesPotShotAt DEP DuringNewsConference
Local
2:16 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
PomptonLakesAlwaysFloodingNoNewNewsWhyBuyHomesThere?BecauseThey'reChreap&GovtWillRescue U EveryTime It Floods & It will Flood Forever With EvenSmall Storms.
Local
2:27 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
UnusalNewsConferenceFilledWithApplausers?????Christie's InvitedHIs Fan Club There for some reason?????
Local
2:30 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Christie AgainMakingFun OF DEP. Why??? Because Christie is a good friend & soldier of the billionaire oil conglomerate Koch Brothers who absolutely HATE DEP so Christie very inappropriately is taking political cheap shots at this very serious time, Irresponsible !
Randy Butternubs
7:43 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Governor could do his part and save us tax dollars by volunteering as a sand bag
Mapleleafnj
12:03 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
A lot of wind coming from this thread and the storm is not even upon us yet ...
Be safe everyone .....
sandy tomasello
5:38 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012
Governor Christi takes no salary, while campaigning . Ck your facts, before you complain. I think he is doing a excellent job, with every aspect of our State.
Champion Container
1:39 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I can sympathise with what you are saying, However if you are stupid and did not prepare properly too bad so sad...don't blame the governor because you got wet. We live near water. Boo hooo.
sean
7:36 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Your all a bunch of dem party followers..and prob want the crook...sleaze corzine back in office ...wake the f up folks...
sean
7:38 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Yes I said party followers...use ur brains...
Mapleleafnj
9:28 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
do you think the gov overreacted now?
Patriot
10:42 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Disaster Govenors make Disaster Presidential Candidates. After praising Obama Governor Christie is no longer a viable candidate for any position. He kissed his political life goodbye.