Date: February 20, 2004
To: County Emergency Management Coordinators
All State Departments and Allied Agencies
NJOEM Regional Offices
From: Major Dennis DelFava, Commanding Officer
Emergency Management Section
Subject: Orange Threat Level Reimbursement
In cooperation with and through the League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management is advising municipal mayors of the correspondence distributed to all county and municipal emergency management coordinators detailing the information required to seek reimbursement for emergency protective measures associated with Threat Level Orange (December 21, 2003 through January 9, 2004).
On December 21, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory that raised the status of the National Threat Level from "elevated" to "high" risk of a terrorist attack. In response to the heightened alert level, the State Emergency Operations Center was activated and remained operational until January 9, 2004.
Additionally, the State Police Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General, issued a memorandum reminding county and local officials to review and inspect all plans and equipment that would be needed to ensure the safety of the public and to protect the critical infrastructure in their primary area of responsibility.
In recognition of the significant impact extended periods of high threat levels have on state and local governments, we are engaged in an ongoing effort to assess this burden and to request financial reimbursement to mitigate the effects these actions have on state, county, and municipal budgets.
The preliminary damage assessments submitted earlier this month indicating both county and municipal expenses were extremely useful in determining the approximate costs associated with the increased threat level. However, in order to be eligible for reimbursement, each agency must now submit a more detailed accounting of their expenditures.
Therefore, we are requesting that you contact municipalities in your county that have costs associated with this event and have them present documentation that supports the straight time and overtime cost for personnel, equipment, materials, rental, and contract cost incurred in the same manner as for a response to a natural weather emergency.
Please use the State Public Assistance Office documentation forms, located on the NJOEM website (http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/opb.html#paforms) to capture these expenses. State agencies should forward reports directly to the Public Assistance Office (fax # 609-538-0345). County requests will be sent to the NJOEM Regional Coordinator in their respective areas. All documentation should be submitted by noon, Wednesday, February 25, 2004.
Your prompt attention and expeditious response to this request will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Lt Karl Kleeberg (Response and Recovery Unit Supervisor) at State Police Headquarters (609-538-6058).
|
