Against the backdrop of the state senate bucking Governor Phil Murphy and the ongoing statewide brawl between his brother and the governor, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) today called on Murphy to declare a state of emergency for Gloucester, Camden and Burlington counties.

Murphy said he was glad to partner with Norcross, then issued an updated schedule with a Cherry Hill stop, followed by the declaration of a state of emergency, effective immediately, in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rains and extreme flooding.

“Our top priority is the safety our residents,” said Murphy. “We have activated the State Emergency Operations Center as of 6:00 a.m. this morning and are deploying resources and personnel to help with recovery efforts.”

Norcross expressed gratitude in a statement.

“I thank Governor Murphy for working with me to ensure relief is provided for the thousands of South Jerseyans dealing with severe rain and flooding,” said the congressman. “I have been in constant contact with all three county administrators and spoke with the Delaware River Port Authority about PATCO service, which partially resumed at noon today. Additionally, with more rain on the way, I’ve been coordinating efforts with Reps. Andy Kim and Jeff Van Drew and all of our area mayors to ensure we’re best serving South Jersey’s families, homeowners, commuters and first responders.”