“EVACUATION ROUTE” SIGNS TO BE INSTALLED
ON ALL MAJOR ESSEX COUNTY ROADWAYS
NEWARK – The Essex County Department of Public Works today began the installation
of “Evacuation Route” signs on all major county roads.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura and County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. were
on hand to affix the first blue and white “Evacuation Route” sign at Springfield and
South Orange Avenues in Newark. Funding for the signs was obtained by the Essex
County Office of Emergency Management through a $10,000 New Jersey State Police
grant.
“In the event of any emergency that would require the evacuation of citizens in
the eastern portion of the county,” Sheriff Fontoura said, “the arrows on the signs will
lead you to safety and designated shelters in western Essex County.”
County Executive DiVincenzo stated that with the heightened Homeland Security
alert and the possibility of natural emergencies, such as hurricanes and snow storms, the
“Evacuation Route” signs are an important strategy in Essex County’s emergency
management plan. “The signs,” DiVincenzo noted, “will facilitate the swift and safe
transit of large groups of people by our public safety personnel. The City of Newark, on
any given work day, is host to thousands of people. It is critical that our residents,
commuters and visitors have a safe, designated route to leave the city in the event of any
emergency.”
Both county officials added that the public should be proactive in protecting
themselves and their families by following preparedness guidelines, such as creating a
family emergency communications plan and a disaster supplies kit.
“Hurricane season is already upon us,” Fontoura said, “and later this month our
area will be impacted by the Republican National Convention. If a natural or manmade
disaster were to occur it would be too late to begin to implement family emergency plans.
We strongly recommend that you begin now if you have not already done so.”
DiVincenzo added, “Schools will also reopen soon. Families should make sure
their children’s schools are prepared to shelter them in place should an emergency occur
during school hours. Families should also designate a trusted local adult to pick-up their
children from school in case they, themselves, are unable to do so.”
Sheriff Fontoura, coordinator of the Essex County Office of Emergency
Management, continues to meet with federal, state and local authorities to review and
update the county’s emergency response procedures. The sheriff reiterated that his
agency is available to mobilize and share with all Essex County municipalities a vast
array of specialized emergency equipment, including a lighting tower, generators,
HAZMAT supplies, oxygen inhalators, communications gear, floodlights and
decontamination units.
The “Evacuation Route” signs will be installed on Broad Street, Broadway,
Washington Avenue, Pleasant Valley Way, Eisenhower Parkway, Passaic Avenue,
Watchung Avenue, Kingsland Avenue, Bloomfield Avenue, Northfield Avenue, Mt.
Pleasant Avenue, Park Avenue, Springfield Avenue, South Orange Avenue, Central
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Avenue, Lyons Avenue and Chancellor Avenue. North – south roadways will funnel the
public to the west.
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