New Jersey Governor Missing During Storm
Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey was reported missing on Saturday night as a powerful storm, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, moved its way up the East Coast. Acting Governor Tahesha Way has declared a state of emergency.
Way, who also serves as the lieutenant governor, issued a statement explaining that the state of emergency affects all 21 counties, aimed at preparing for the impending storm and acting with caution. The state officially declared this emergency at 10 p.m. on Saturday, anticipating a nor’easter to strike on Sunday, October 12, continuing through Monday.
“A dangerous coastal storm system is set to move through our state starting Sunday, bringing extreme weather particularly to Shore County,” the acting governor noted. “With this in mind, I’ve decided to declare a state of emergency across all counties, allowing state emergency personnel to take necessary action. I urge everyone in New Jersey to stay vigilant, keep an eye on local weather updates, understand evacuation procedures, and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Reports suggested that Governor Murphy’s office had sent out an email detailing his schedule on October 8, indicating he and his wife planned to travel to Europe until October 14. However, given the approaching storm, there were no further announcements regarding their travel plans.
While the term-limited Democratic governor is known for taking frequent vacations in luxurious locations like Italy, he had not shared specific details about his current trip amidst warnings about the nor’easter that could potentially create significant damage across the state.
According to his publicist, Tyler Jones, the governor and his wife were attending a close family wedding in Europe over the weekend. Jones stressed that the governor was in regular contact with his team and emergency response officials as the situation evolved.
As the storm continues its path north, areas such as Delaware, southern New Jersey, and Virginia’s Tidewater Coast are particularly vulnerable to flooding. There are reports predicting damaging winds that could reach up to 60 mph along the coast and up to 40 mph further inland.
