Our History

Emergency management in New Jersey has evolved during the past seven decades from the post-World War II focus on “civil defense” to “all hazards” by incorporating a whole community approach to mitigation, protection, prevention, response and recovery for a wide variety of threats and hazards. Beginning in 1978, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM), housed within the New Jersey State Police, has overseen the State’s emergency management program and coordinates preparedness, response and recovery efforts with federal, State, county and municipal agencies. It has evolved from a small agency with limited planning, training, and response capabilities to its present status as an integral part of state government and a national leader in emergency management.

Early Focus on Civil Defense

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 civil defense plans developed to prepare for war-related activities.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the New Jersey 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.

Evolution of All Hazards Focus

Until 1979, emergency management programs dedicated to specific hazards were scattered around the national government in various Federal agencies. A consensus emerged that managing an emergency successfully included attention to all phases of the emergency – mitigation (risk reduction), preparedness, response, and recovery – and many similar emergency management strategies could apply whether the emergency was due to a flood, earthquake, drought, fire, chemical spill or a terrorist attack.

The increase in technological disasters in the 1970’s and 1980’s (many of which were attributable to hazardous chemicals) brought about the “all-hazards” approach to emergency management and the emergence of state offices with a much broader scope of responsibility.

Establishment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

In 1979, after the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station incident, President Carter established the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This vested the President with all functions that had been previously delegated or assigned to  federal agencies including but not limited to, the Civil Defense Preparedness Agency, the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, and the Federal Preparedness Agency. The 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 that allowed states to use federal funds to prepare for and respond to natural and technological emergencies in addition to attack preparedness. Following the transfer and establishment of all emergency programs to FEMA, efforts were undertaken to consolidate functional activities that were similar for all emergencies (such as evacuation or public education) into a unified planning effort.

The Director of the FEMA represents 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.

Establishment of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management

Around that same time, similar changes in focus and structure of coordinated preparedness and response operations occurred in New Jersey. In 1976, the State Legislature approved a Reorganization Plan 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.  In 1978, New Jersey Attorney General William F. Hyland, transferred the Office of Civilian Defense Director to the Division of State Police.  After the creation of FEMA, Governor Brendan Byrne issued Executive Order 101 (1980) that renamed the Office of the Civilian Defense Director as the Office of Emergency Management and directed that all of the functions, powers and duties of the former Office of Civilian Defense Director would be under the auspices of the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

Leadership and Authority

The Governor of New Jersey has the overall responsibility for Emergency Management activities in the State. The State Director of Emergency Management is appointed by the Governor, and is primarily responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating emergency or disaster preparedness operations within the State.  The State Director supervises, directs and controls the appointment of deputies and/or assistants to control the daily activities of NJOEM.  The function and staffing of NJOEM is as proposed from time to time by the State Director of Emergency Management with the approval of the Attorney General.

During disasters and emergencies, emergency response activities are coordinated, directed and controlled from the State Emergency Operations Center, which is presently located at the Regional Operations Intelligence Center.