Murphy declares state of emergency as hurricane erin brushes new jersey coast

Trenton, NJ – Thursday — Governor Phil Murphy declared a statewide state of emergency Thursday afternoon as Hurricane Erin churns up the East Coast, threatening New Jersey with high winds, coastal flooding, and surf conditions not seen in recent storms.

Starting at 2 p.m., all 21 counties across the Garden State were placed under Executive Order No. 396 as forecasters warn of winds topping 50 mph, flash floods, and 17-foot waves slamming the Shore. Flood-prone areas may face water levels rising one to three feet as the hurricane brushes past the state.

The Jersey Shore has already seen hazardous rip currents this week, and the storm’s closest pass is expected over the next 24 hours. Officials are urging residents to remain alert and to follow any evacuation protocols should they be activated.

Photo: murphy declares state of emergency as hurricane erin brushes new jersey coast

Governor Murphy emphasized the need for caution, noting the combined risk of beach erosion, dangerous currents, and fast-moving floodwaters. The order allows for rapid mobilization of emergency services and coordination across local and state agencies.

Residents have been advised to avoid coastal areas during the storm’s impact window and to prepare for power outages and travel disruptions. Evacuation routes and readiness plans are available through the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

Key Points

Governor Murphy issued a statewide state of emergency effective Thursday afternoon ahead of Hurricane Erin’s impact.
New Jersey could see wind gusts of 50 mph, flash flooding, and waves as high as 17 feet along the coast.
The emergency order enables deployment of resources and urges residents to prepare for possible evacuations.

New Jersey braces for Hurricane Erin as storm surges, flash floods, and winds threaten the entire state.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.