July 7, 2026
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Flynn & Scharfenberger Question Why No State of Emergency Was Declared Following Devastating Storms

Middletown, N.J. – Monmouth County was again deluged by severe storms which caused dangerous flooding, road closures, property damage, and widespread disruption. We thank the Sheriff’s Office, local first responders, public works crews, emergency management personnel, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist our communities.

We also commend our Monmouth County mayors, who fought relentlessly for their residents by demanding answers and better communication from JCP&L. Their advocacy made a difference, and JCP&L’s response improved because local and state leaders refused to accept the status quo. Today’s outage numbers are greatly improving - we are almost there!

But one simple question we were asked to pose to Governor Sherrill remains unanswered - Will the State declare a State of Emergency? If not, why not?

Many are perplexed why a State of Emergency has not been declared. It is a tool to coordinate resources and support communities recovering from disaster. By not declaring a State of Emergency, it seems to residents that the State is not deploying every available resource to assist residents.

Just last July, a State of Emergency was declared following a storm that caused far less damage to our state. This time, right here in Monmouth County, some residents have been without power longer than they were after Superstorm Sandy. Communities have endured prolonged power outages, flooding, road closures, and extensive property damage. Our local leaders and residents deserve to know why a declaration has not been made to help coordinate resources and support recovery efforts.

We look forward to a comprehensive post-storm review involving JCP&L, the BPU, the Governor’s Office, Monmouth County’s mayors, and legislative leaders so we can identify what worked, what didn’t, and ensure the lessons from this storm are not lost. We owe it to New Jersey families to strengthen our emergency response, improve communication and coordination, and be better prepared for the next major storm.

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