Sen. Inverso said New Jersey has done itself proud, as has the rest of the country, in rallying to the aid of the victims and to the families of the victims.
By:Al Wicklund
JAMESBURG State Sen. Peter Inverso was later than he thought he would be, arriving at the 7 p.m. Borough Council meeting at about 8 Wednesday night.
He was late because he attended a prayer service for victims of the World Trade Center disaster and their families.
The senator apologized.
It wasn’t really necessary, however. Council members understood and approved without question because in times of national emergencies priorities and schedules are subject to change.
"These are difficult times for us. It can help us to take time to reflect (on what has happened) and say a prayer," he said.
Steve Cook of the senator’s staff said Sen. Inverso, who was in Jamesburg to present checks symbolic of $100,000 in state aid for local property tax relief and $10,000 for the borough’s skate park, had attended a service at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Hamilton Township.
The senator’s situation was representative of what’s been happening throughout the state and throughout state government since planes crashed into the World Trade Center’s two towers in New York City, into a section of the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and just outside of Pittsburgh, Tuesday.
Sen. Inverso said New Jersey has done itself proud, as has the rest of the country, in rallying to the aid of the victims and to the families of the victims.
"Gov. (Donald) DiFrancesco has declared a state of emergency. The New Jersey National Guard, as well as our state and local emergency management agencies, have responded.
"The cooperation between the states and among the various agencies has been exemplary," the senator said.
The governor said the state’s Emergency Operations Center received offers of assistance from hospitals, emergency response personnel, ambulance corps and police and fire personnel from every corner of the state.
New Jersey’s business communities, pharmaceutical manufacturers and others also have contacted the state EOC offering assistance, Gov. DiFrancesco said.
He said Avantis Pasteur, a New Jersey-based company, has donated 60,000 units of tetanus vaccine and Becton Dickson also has donated various medical supplies and equipment.
The governor said emergency facilities were established at Liberty State Park, Jersey City and at the Meadowlands sports and entertainment complex for the care of the injured.

