The Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) declared a county-wide state of emergency at noon on Saturday in advance of Hurricane Sandy’s expected Monday arrival.

The declaration allows Monmouth County OEM to mobilize and coordinate regional resources to protect life and property, according to a press release issued by the county. These actions include ordering mandatory evacuations and controlling traffic on all roadways.

“The most important factor we need to stress throughout this event is that people stay safe,” Monmouth County OEM Director Mike Oppegaard said in the release. “If you need to evacuate make arrangements with family or friends who live in an area that will be less impacted by the storm.”

A county evacuation center will be established at an as-yet unannounced location. Each municipality will have a reception center where residents  can seek assistance and advice, according to the release.

A complete list of Monmouth County municipalities and their contact information is posted at visitmonmouth.com under the Hurricane Sandy Updates page. Residents can also "like" the Monmouth County Government page on Facebook and follow @MonmouthGovNJ on Twitter.