Christie: 'If We Can Minimize the Loss of Life, NJ Will Get Through This Just Fine'

While Hurricane Irene has downgraded to a Category 1 storm, Gov. Chris Christie said in his 2 p.m. preparedness briefing that decreasing wind speeds by 10-15 mph "will make little difference to the folks here in New Jersey."

So far, more than 90 percent of the residents in Long Beach Island, Cape May and Atlantic counties have been evacuated. The concern as of this afternoon is Atlantic City and Christie said the New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Transit are sending additional buses to accelerate and complete the evacuation process.

"I can't make you leave your home and I am certainly not going to place you under arrest to make you leave," Christie said. "Let us take you downstairs to one of these buses. … If you stay where you are now, you are placing yourself in greater danger."

In Union County, the only mandatory evacuation is for Cranford residents who live in a flood zone. Residents who have no place to stay are welcome at the shelter that has been set up in the Community Center on Walnut Avenue.

Christie said shelters should be the last resort for housing. So far, the state is equipped to house about 5,300 people at the Rutgers campus and at Mennen Arena in Morris Township. The Jersey City Armory and the Izod Center are on standby to help if needed. The armory can house about 750 people and the Izod Center can house more than double that, Christie said.

Christie said he began communicating with elected officials at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and will continue to host briefings.

"We need continued help to do this," Christie said. "I'm confident if people in the state continue to respond, almost certainly we will suffer significant property and infrastructure losses. If we can minmize the loss of life, New Jersey will get through this just fine."