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Bill > A5993
NJ A5993
NJ A5993Requires State Office of Emergency Management to establish hyperlocal text alert system for flood and severe weather conditions.
summary
Introduced
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
In Committee
11/17/2025
11/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to develop a State-coordinated, opt-in text alert system using hyperlocal flood and severe weather data to provide real-time warnings to community members. The program shall be a cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and the media, and shall be a voluntary service provided to State residents who register their mobile electronic communications device with the State Office of Emergency Management. Under the provisions of the bill, the flood and severe weather alert system shall integrate real-time reports from counties, municipalities, and local governments. The bill establishes the types of information that broadcasted alerts to State residents may include, such that alerts provide sufficient information and environmental context to guide a safe community member response to a flood or severe weather incident. Text alerts will describe current rainfall and precipitation levels; local river levels; total water level rise; storm surge; drainage complaints; reported flood damage; the location and severity of flood incidents in exceedance of one foot of total water or sea level rise; forecasted threat details, storm arrival and end times, peak impact timing, intensity, and storm hazards; National Weather Service watches and warnings; and Federal Emergency Management Agency Integrated Public Alert and Warning System notifications. Finally, the bill requires that the opt-in text alert system includes sufficient information and environmental characteristics to guide a safe and efficient response to a flood or severe weather incident, including, when necessary, nearby evacuation routes and instructions.
AI Summary
This bill requires the State Office of Emergency Management to establish a hyperlocal, opt-in text alert system for flood and severe weather conditions in New Jersey. The system will leverage real-time data from multiple sources including flood sensors, river height monitoring devices, radar, satellite images, and federal agencies like the National Weather Service and FEMA to provide residents with detailed, localized emergency information. Residents can voluntarily register their mobile electronic communications devices to receive text alerts that will include comprehensive details such as current rainfall levels, river and water levels, storm surge information, reported flood damage, forecasted threat details, and National Weather Service warnings. The alerts will aim to provide sufficient environmental context to guide community members' responses, potentially including nearby evacuation routes and safety instructions. The bill emphasizes that text messaging is the primary communication method and that the program will be a cooperative effort between state and local law enforcement agencies and media. The system will also consult with the Department of Environmental Protection to assess each county's vulnerability to infrastructure damage from floods or severe weather. The Director of the State Office of Emergency Management will be responsible for adopting specific rules and regulations to implement the program.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Hearing (14:00:00 12/4/2025 Committee Room 13, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ) (on 12/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5993 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5993_I1.HTM |
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