FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP — As a heat wave bakes New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie today urged residents to "be smart" in conserving drinking water. Despite advisories in certain counties, Christie said the state is not in immediate danger of running out of drinking water, but the drought has put farms at risk. "We are not yet at a crisis point...
Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno traveled to a dairy farm owned by Bob Puskas, right.FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP — As a heat wave bakes New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie today urged residents to "be smart" in conserving drinking water.
Despite advisories in certain counties, Christie said the state is not in immediate danger of running out of drinking water, but the drought has put farms at risk.
"We are not yet at a crisis point in terms of our drinking water. But it doesn't help at a farm like this," Christie said on a visit to the Franklin Township 21-acre spread of Bob Puskas, a third-generation farmer who produces corn, soybeans, wheat and hay along with raising cows.
Puskas said the corn and soybean crops are "hurting" and may not survive the season.
"If we don't get any rain this weekend, we're about finished," he said.
Puskas asked Christie whether he'd work some gubernatorial magic, and Christie promised to oblige later in the week at the Statehouse.
"The imperative is on me to do the rain dance," the governor said to laughter from reporters and staff. "We'll be sure to send out an advisory."
More heat wave coverage:
• N.J. meteorologists expect heat wave to continue for at least 7 days
• More than 6,500 PSE&G customers without power as N.J. heat wave continues
• NJ Transit announces train delays, cancellations due to excessive heat
• N.J. calls for voluntary water restrictions as temperatures hike up to 100 degrees
• COMPLETE WEATHER COVERAGE