COMMITTEE RELEASES SCALERA/COHEN MEASURE TO REQUIRE STADIUMS AND ARENAS TO FILE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS

By John Duthie

COMMITTEE RELEASES SCALERA/COHEN MEASURE TO REQUIRE STADIUMS AND ARENAS TO FILE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera and Neil Cohen sponsored to require large entertainment facilities, such as Giants Stadium and Camden's Susquehanna Bank Center, to file evacuation plans with local municipal emergency management coordinators.

"Municipal officials and venue operators both need to know how an emergency situation will be handled," said Scalera (D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic). "The current security climate requires us to be prepared to handle anything. Nothing should be left to chance"

Under the measure (A-1977), every New Jersey entertainment and sports facility that holds more than 5,000 people would be required to prepare and maintain an evacuation plan in coordination with local emergency response agencies. A copy of that plan would be filed with the municipality which hosts the venue.

"Local officials cannot be left scratching their heads if an emergency requires 80,000 fans to evacuate the Meadowlands," said Cohen (D-Union). "Municipal officials need to know well in advance that stadium and arena officials already have plans in place to ensure spectators can get out in a safe, orderly, and responsible manner."

The committee passed the measure 5 to 0. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides when and if to post if for a floor vote.

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JOHN DUTHIE can be reached via email at duthiejo@gmail.com.

Related topics: Neil Cohen, Fred Scalera, Homeland Security

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