ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4805

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 20, 2023

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4805.

     This bill supplements the FY 2023 appropriations act by appropriating $3 million to the Department of Health for the construction and operation of an emergency management and storage center on the campus of the Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington. 

     The purpose of the new emergency management and storage center will be to manage emergency operations and coordinate and deliver resources to incident sites during emergency events.  According to Hunterdon Health’s proposal, the warehouse-like facility will be approximately 10,000-20,000 square feet in size.  When not utilized to respond to an emerging crisis, it is expected that the building will store emergency supplies for Hunterdon Medical Center, including beds, medical equipment such as IV poles and ventilators, emergency response equipment such as inflatables, decontamination equipment, and personal protective equipment.  As outlined in the proposal, during a catastrophe, the facility would act as a hub to manage emergency operations and coordinate and deliver resources to incident sites.  Because of its size, the facility could also serve as a field hospital unit, a supply distribution point, or a shelter.

     As there is no other medical center within a 30-minute drive of Flemington, it is expected that the new emergency management and storage center will be at the forefront of any medical emergency deriving from a natural disaster, attack, or mass casualty event occurring in the area.