Emergency
Management in New Jersey - A Historical Perspective
The
NJ Office of Emergency Management office has evolved
from a small agency with limited planning, training,
and response capabilities to its present status as an
integral part of state government.
Before1950,
federal and state disaster relief programs focused on
protecting the U.S. population from acts of war. At
that time, key functions of the integrated emergency
management program model used today - evacuation planning,
sheltering, volunteer management, alert and warning,
and resource management - were elements of the "civilian
defense plans" developed to prepare for war-related
activities.
During
the 1950's and 1960's, the N.J. Civil Defense Office
was primarily responsible for coordination with its
designated federal counterpart to disseminate information
on civil defense, to maintain civil defense communications,
and to provide for civil defense training programs.
Nationally, the federal government offered assistance
on a per-incident basis to victims of natural disasters.
Until
1979, emergency management programs dedicated to specific
hazards were scattered around the national government
in various Federal agencies. During this time, the realization
was growing that managing an emergency successfully
included attention to all phases of the emergency --
mitigation (risk reduction), preparedness, response,
and recovery - and similar emergency management strategies
could apply whether the emergency was a flood, earthquake,
drought, fire, chemical spill or a terrorist attack.
The
increase in technological disasters in the 1970's and
1980's - many due to hazardous chemical emergencies
- brought about the "all-hazard" approach
to emergency management and the emergence of state offices
with a much broader scope of responsibility.
In
1979, after the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating
Station incident, President Carter established the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This vested in the
President all functions that had been delegated or assigned
to the Civil Defense Prepared Agency, the Federal Disaster
Assistance Administration, the Federal Preparedness
Agency, and the agencies named in the Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977.
In
1980, amendments to the Civil Defense Act mandated FEMA
to work with the State and local governments to assist
them in setting up emergency management programs. These
amendments prescribed the coordination and support role
that FEMA plays to State and local governments.
Amendments
to the Civil defense Act also provided for "dual
use" of funds, meaning that Federal funding to
the states maybe used to prepare for and respond to
natural and technological emergencies to the extent
that the use of funds is consistent with, contributes
to, and does not detract from attack preparedness. Once
all emergency programs were established under FEMA,
work began to consolidate functional activities that
were similar for all emergencies (such as evacuation
or public education) into a unified planning effort.
A
Presidential Executive Order states that the Director
of the FEMA will represent the President in working
with State and local governments and the private sector
to stimulate vigorous participation in civil emergency
preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery programs.
The FEMA Director also develops policies which provide
that all emergency management functions, resources and
systems of executive agencies are integrated with organizations,
resources and programs of state and local governments,
the private sector and volunteer organizations.
In
New Jersey a Reorganization Plan was submitted to the
Legislature to transfer the functions, powers and duties
of the Office of Civilian Defense Director from the
Department of Defense to the Department of Law and Public
Safety on July 22, 1979. On December 17, 1980, the Honorable
Brendan Byrne, Governor of the State of New Jersey established
the Office of Emergency Management in the Division of
State Police, Department of Law and Public Safety. Colonel
Clinton L. Pagano, Superintendent, New Jersey State
Police was appointed as the State Director.
All
of the functions, powers and duties of the Office of
Civilian Defense Director in the Department of Law and
Public Safety as provided in the July 22, 1979 Reorganization
Plan are carried out by the State Director of Emergency
Management.
The
Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police is generally
also appointed as the State Director of the New Jersey
Office of Emergency Management.
In
order to effectuate the powers of the Governor, the
State Director of Emergency Management supervises, directs
and controls the appointment of one or more deputies
and/or assistants to control the daily activities of
the State Office of Emergency Management. The function
and staffing of the Office of Emergency Management will
be as proposed from time to time by the State Director
of Emergency Management with the approval of the Attorney
General.
The
Governor of New Jersey has the overall responsibility
for Emergency Management activities in the State. On
behalf of the Governor all activities and departments
are coordinated, directed and controlled from the State
Office of Emergency Management, Emergency Operations
Center.
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