2013.002

Staff / Collected by

Collected by Staff

Museum Collections.

2012 - 2012

Date(s) Created: 2012 Date(s): 2012

Notes: Archives 2013.002.0028 Transcription of first three pages of this document ==== CITY OF HOBOKEN Office of the Business Administrator DAWN ZIMMER Mayor QUENTIN WIEST Business Administrator STEPHEN D. MARKS, PP, AlCP Assistant Business Administrator MEMORANDUM TO: HON. DAWN ZIMMER, MAYOR QUENTIN WIEST, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL BRYAN, CHIEF OF STAFF JON TOOKE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY JOEL MESTRE, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FROM: STEPHEN MARKS, ASSISTANT BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR DATE: DECEMBER 3, 2012 RE: HURRICANE SANDY CHRONOLOGY & SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Please accept this memorandum documenting the sequence of events leading up to Hurricane Sandy and the significant milestones which occurred, including the disaster declaration(s) and recovery efforts. This memo is not meant to comprehensively chronicle every detail of the disaster event. It is a cursory review of the major announcements which occurred before, during and after the storm. In retrospect, it appears that more than half of the city experienced some degree of flooding from either the storm surge and overtopping of the Hudson River, or the backup of sanitary sewers from the North Hudson Sewerage Authority'S ("NHSA") combined sewer system. Unfortunately, there were no meters or devices which were operational which recorded either the flood depth or the number of sanitary backups. Therefore, this information is virtually impossible to gather after the fact and at best can only be gathered anecdotally by interviewing individual residents. I also requested a detailed chronicle of the power outages from Public Service Electric and Gas ("PSEG"). I asked PSEG representatives to tabulate and share their information involving the number of meters which lost power and the number of meters which were restored on a daily basis. In addition, I am working with the Hoboken Health Officer and Construction Code Official to chronicle the number of permits and inspections which occurred on a daily basis after the storm and during the recovery. With regard to the public record, there appears to be an ample record of the multimedia campaign the city engaged in to distribute and disseminate information to the general public before, during and after the storm. First, the city utilized its Reverse 911 system to notify local residents by telephone. Next, the city posted dozens of public notices and media advisories on its internet website, as well as NixIe, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Third, for people who either lost power or are not internet savvy the city printed over 10,000 fliers (in English and Spanish) which were posted on the front doors of nearly every residential building over the course of three days (November 2,3 and 4). Finally, the city posted [end page 1] ==== [page 2] information on bulletin boards stationed in front of city hall at several other locations strategiGally located throughout the city. The following is the sequence of events as evidenced by the city's records: I. On October 24,2012 at 1:24 PM, the National Weather Service reported that Sandy became a category I hurricane as it approached eastern Cuba. 2. On October 25,2012, the City of Hoboken issued its first public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHTBIT M1) cautioning residents to prepare themselves, encouraging everyone to sign up for the city's Reverse 911 alert system, prepanng plans to operationalize the shelter and emergency operations center and posting barricades around flood prone areas. 3. October 25,2012 at 11:23 AM, Hoboken municipal employees inspected all storm sewer inlets and catch basins and clear litter and debris to prevent flooding. 4. October 25, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Public Service Electric & Gas ("PSEG") issued a press release announcing the utility is taking the necessary steps to prepare and respond to the storm. 5. October 26,2012 at 6:22 PM, the City of Hoboken issued its second public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M2) warning residents to prepare for Hurricane Sandy and calling for volunteers. 6. October 27, 2012 at II :01 AM, Governor Christie declared a state of emergency (EXHIBIT M3) to mobilize government in preparation of the storm. 7. October 27, 2012 at 12:52 PM, the City of Hoboken issued its third public notice, media advisory and Nixie Alert (EXHIBIT M4) seeking volunteers to help prepare for the storm, announcing free community shuttle service to Shop Rite in advance ofthe storm and relaying that NJ Transit was cross honoring tickets. 8. October 28, 2012 at 12:17 PM, the City of Hoboken issued its fourth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M5) armouncing a mandatory evacuation for all ground floor units and recommended that residents make final preparations for Hurricane Sandy. The notice also announced the opening of a shelter at Wallace School, and the opening of the Emergency Operations Center for 1:00 PM on Sunday October 28, 2012, warned residents about high winds, encouraged residents to move parked cars out of flood prone areas, announced the opening of municipal garages to residents at a discounted rate, discouraged residents from coming into contact with flood waters, encouraged residents to have enough food and water for at least 72 hours, and announced the closing of public schools and city offices for Monday October 29, 2012. 9. October 28, 2012at 4:00 PM, Mayor Zimmer conducted a press conference on the steps of city hall warning residents about the coming storm. 10. October 28, 2012 at 9:45 PM, full moon-high tide and storm surge begin flooding Hoboken terminal. 11. October 28, 2012 at II :50 PM, President Obama signed the New Jersey Emergency Declaration (EXHIBIT M6) ordering federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Sandy. 12. October 29, 2012 at 10:23 AM, the City of Hoboken issued its fifth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M7) prohibiting the driving of personal vehicles. including taxis. after 4 PM, encouraged residents to park on high ground, municipal garages or at Newport Mall, announced the establishment of a community shuttle route to the Newport Mall parking garage and announced the suspension of parking meter and street cleaning enforcement for Monday and Tuesday (October 29, 2012). 13. October 29, 2012 at 12:27 PM, the City of Hoboken issued its sixth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M8) armouncing that there would be no trash or recycling pick up on Monday and Tuesday (October 29 and 30, 2012). 14. October 29, 2012 at 2:48 PM the City of Hoboken issued its seventh public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M9) stating that a curfew would be in effect from 6:00 PM until 1:00 PM on October 30. 2012. 15. October 30,2012, the City of Hoboken issued its eighth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M10) announcing that the National Guard was expected to evacuate those with medical emergencies from flooded areas and assist pumping out the estimated 500 [end page 2] === [page 3] million gallons of water that had flooded the city. The public notice also lifted the curfew and driving ban, and requested that volunteers donate and deliver food. 16. November 1, 2012, the City of Hoboken issued its ninth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT MIl) updating residents on the power restoration efforts, seeking volunteers to check on the elderly and disabled, asking for donations of food, blankets and coats, and announcing the establishment of a FEMA disaster recovery center. 17. November 2, 2012, the City of Hoboken issued its tenth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M12) announcing the reopening of the Hoboken University Medical Center ("HUMC"), updating residents on power restoration efforts by PSEG, and directing residents to call FEMA to file disaster assistance applications. 18. November 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM the City of Hoboken issued a Nixie Alert (EXHIBIT M13) with an update for Hoboken Residents. 19. November 4, 2012, the City of Hoboken issued its eleventh public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M14) announcing points-of-distribution ("pods") for food and relief supplies throughout the city, public transportation options available to residents, power restoration efforts (two of the three substations were partially energized), an update on the general election, and announcing the reopening of public schools and municipal offices on November 5, 2012. 20. November 5, 2012 at 2 PM Mayor Zimmer held community update and press conference on the steps of city hall. The twelfth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M15) reported that all three substations were repaired and reenergized. Among other things, trash pickup had resumed, but parking enforcement was still suspended. 21. November 6, 2012 at 1:35 PM, Governor Christie issued an emergency order easing infrastructure repair permit requirements following Hurricane Sandy. 22. November 7, 2012 at 12:27 PM, the City of Hoboken issued its thirteenth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M16) stating that the city was running 8-10 extra garbage trucks daily, recommending ways to expedite power restoration for those still without gas or electricity and stating that parking regulations were suspended until 11 :59 pm on Monday November 12,2012. 23. November 7, 2012 at 1:45 PM, the City Clerk announced the cancelation of the City Council meeting due to ongoing disaster recovery operations. 24. November 8, 2012 at 4:19 PM, Mayor Zimmer called for a special city council meeting (EXHIBIT M17) for Wednesday November 14, 2012 to discuss disaster response and recovery efforts. 25. November 9, 2012 the City of Hoboken issued its fourteenth public notice, media advisory and NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M18) announcing two community meetings for disaster relief and information for residents without power. 26. On November 11, 2012 the City of Hoboken issued a NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M19) advising residents that the Hoboken PATH service would remain suspended for several weeks and announcing a $5 Ferry option from Hoboken Terminal to 39th St. in Manhattan. 27. On November 11, 2012 the City of Hoboken issued a NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M20) announcing that partial parking enforcement and new towing procedures were going into effect. 28. On November 12, 2012 the City of Hoboken issued a NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M21) reminding residents about a community meeting for disaster relief at Hoboken High School. 29. On November 20,2012 the City of Hoboken issued a NixIe Alert (EXHIBIT M22) strongly urging the community to register with FEMA. If you need additional information or assistance, please let me know. Thank you for your attention to this matter. [end page 3] ==== Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2014-09-30