Politics & Government

What is a Gubernatorial State of Emergency?

Governor Deval Patrick has declared a State of Emergency, but what does that mean?

Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency today banning car travel after 4 p.m.

According to information from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, a state of emergency can involve different measures and does not always affect travel or private businesses. There may be a request for drivers to stay off the roads and for businesses to change their hours, but the governor may also order roads to be closed to non-emergency traffic.

There has not been an ordered ban on travel since the Blizzard of '78. Violators could be fined up to $500 and be sentenced to a year in jail, although Governor Patrick says the main purpose is to get non-essential people off the roads.

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The state of emergency does not mean the state will provide financial assistance to municipalities because of the storm, according to the office of public safety.


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