With Hurricane Florence approaching the East Coast and expected to make landfall near the Carolinas, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is warning his state could feel the impact of the storm.
But Murphy is taking a different approach than his predecessor in warning state residents.
“I won’t repeat the words precisely, but please may I ask you to get off the beach. Pretty please?” Murphy said.
Before Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey in August 2011, then-Governor Chris Christie told people to “Get the hell off the beach.”
Florence isn’t expected to hit New Jersey directly, but Murphy warned that the strength of the category 4 storm could be felt in the state. He said flooding could be a concern in some areas.
“I think in almost any scenario we’re going to get a churning, surging coastal reality. The only question is how significant that will be,” Murphy said.
New Jersey State Police have announced the deployment of 80 members of the New Jersey Task Force to help the region deal with search and rescue operations. They also urged people in New Jersey to be prepared.
“Events such as Superstorm Sandy have taught us that awareness and preparedness saves lives. We encourage everyone to prepare today,” Colonel Patrick Callahan said.
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