Breaking News: New Jersey Declares State of Emergency Amid Flash Flood, Thunderstorm Threats Filed by NewJerseyVeterans.com

TRENTON, NJ — Acting Governor Tahesha Way has officially declared a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, effective 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025, in anticipation of flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, and damaging wind gusts expected to impact the region into the evening and overnight hours.

According to Executive Order No. 394, state offices are to close early, and emergency management resources are being mobilized across the state.

“Beginning this afternoon, we are expecting severe thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts with the potential for flash flooding across the state,” said Acting Governor Way. “I urge all New Jerseyans to remain alert, follow all safety protocols, and monitor the proper channels for the duration of these storms.”

🌧️ Forecast Summary

• Rainfall amounts of 1–3 inches expected widely

• Localized totals up to 5–7 inches, especially in flood-prone areas

• Risk of landslides, rockslides, and impassable roadways

• Strong wind gusts could cause downed trees and power outages

🛑 Safety Measures Advised

• Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary

• Remain indoors, especially during periods of heavy rain or lightning

• Secure outdoor items and check local storm drains to prevent flooding

• Check in on elderly or at-risk neighbors

🔗 Resources for Veterans & Residents

• 🌐 New Jersey Emergency Updates: ready.nj.gov

• 📍 Northern NJ / NY Metro Weather: weather.gov/okx

• 📍 Central & Southern NJ Weather: weather.gov/phi

• 📄 Executive Order No. 394: Read the full declaration

🇺🇸 Message to Veterans in New Jersey

Veterans in affected areas should prepare for:

• Potential service disruptions to VA clinics or transportation

• Flooding near low-lying veteran housing communities

• Power outages impacting medical devices or communications

If you or a veteran you know is in immediate danger or loses power-dependent medical equipment, contact your local emergency services or county veterans affairs office.

🌎 Related Weather Emergencies

The storm in New Jersey coincides with multiple global weather disasters, including:

• Japan’s triple emergency: heatwave, tropical storm, tsunami advisories

• Japan tsunami bulletin following the 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake

These overlapping events are a stark reminder of the climate volatility and regional coordination needed to protect lives.

🧭 Index-Ready Keywords

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📌 Bookmark www.NewJerseyVeterans.com for ongoing updates and veteran-specific support during emergencies.

National Invest In America Week (July 1–7): A Self-Funded Civic Movement for Economic Renewal

Orlando, FL – June 2025 — From wellness to civic innovation, Sherman Williams Jr. is building a national brand rooted in impact, independence, and identity. The founder of Body Aqua® and the most trademarked veteran beverage entrepreneur in America has just been announced as the People’s Choice winner in the prestigious Disability:IN Pitch Perfect Challenge, propelling him to the Global Conference finals this July.

But this achievement is not just a personal milestone — it’s emblematic of the broader movement he helps lead. Williams Jr. serves as Director of Partnerships for National Invest In America Week℠ (July 1–7) and National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7), two of the nation’s most forward-thinking, self-funded observances aimed at reshaping America’s civic and economic future.

Sherman Williams Jr.: Civic Architect and IP Pioneer

Sherman Williams Jr. isn't merely launching drinks — he's launching a new era of American entrepreneurship. As Director of Partnerships for both initiatives, Williams Jr. bridges veteran advocacy, civic capitalism, and brand innovation. His role spans:

• Strategic alliance building with corporations, nonprofits, and municipalities.

• Amplifying veteran-owned and minority-owned businesses through visibility campaigns and pitch platforms.

• Expanding access to resources that help underserved founders protect intellectual property and scale sustainably.

As the founder of Health2O, Williams Jr. has turned Body Aqua® into a functional wellness empire. His portfolio includes:

• Body Aqua® – Gut-friendly hydration.

• Cosmetic Beverage® – Skin-enhancing wellness drink.

• Well Water 7.5 pH®, Kids Aqua®, Woof Water®, Meow Water® – Innovative product lines for holistic wellness across demographics.

With over 460 store placements and partnerships in five states, Sherman’s ability to translate IP into shelf-ready products sets a model for aspiring entrepreneurs — especially veterans and underrepresented founders.

Disability:IN Recognition: The Public Has Spoken

Disability:IN’s announcement of Sherman Williams Jr. as People’s Choice winner wasn’t just an endorsement — it was a validation of his national resonance. Competing against numerous disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs), Williams Jr. earned his way to the finals through a grassroots groundswell of public support.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Body Aqua has been named the People’s Choice winner! Congratulations to Body Aqua and founder Sherman Williams Jr. on this incredible achievement,” wrote Disability:IN to its 69,000+ followers.

Williams Jr. will now advance to the Global Conference finals this July, bringing his message of health equity and veteran innovation to an international audience.

National Invest In America Week℠: A New Civic Blueprint

Set annually for July 1–7, National Invest In America Week℠ is deliberately positioned alongside Independence Day. It’s a symbolic reminder that investing in American communities, founders, and values is the truest form of patriotism.

With Sherman Williams Jr. playing a critical leadership role, the movement centers around:

• Economic renewal through self-funded entrepreneurship.

• Cross-sector collaboration to uplift minority-owned, veteran-led, and civic-minded enterprises.

• Intellectual property empowerment — turning ideas into protected, scalable brands.

His work dovetails with the March observance, National Invest In Veterans Week®, which he also helps guide. The two initiatives form a civic corridor: one honoring the past and present contributions of veterans, the other fueling the economic possibilities of the future.

Together, they establish a year-round framework for elevating leaders like Sherman Williams Jr.

A Strategic Command Behind the Scenes

Sherman Williams Jr. is a vital part of the executive command shaping both observances. Alongside:

• Angel Shuford – President & CFO, decorated Army Reserve Air Traffic Controller.

• Jim Freeman – Cultural Advisor, Grammy Hall of Fame inductee and civil rights-era performer.

• Dave Seamans – Commander-in-Chief of National Invest In America Week℠.

Williams Jr. ensures these movements are not just symbolic, but structurally transformative. He builds coalitions, secures endorsements, and drives results.

Endorsements and Engagement

The reaction to Sherman’s Pitch Perfect win has been enthusiastic and widespread:

• Neurodiversity in the Workplace (39,000+ followers) congratulated Body Aqua.

• HerSpine Solutions noted they “can’t wait to see the magic unfold at the Global Conference finals.”

• Angel Shuford, responding as President of National Invest In Veterans Week®, celebrated his milestone publicly.

• And Nicole J. Wallace, a U.S. Army veteran and therapist, simply said what many were thinking: “Congrats! 🎉”

A Vision of Civic and Commercial Legacy

As the Global Conference approaches and National Invest In America Week℠ nears, Sherman Williams Jr. is more than a finalist — he’s the embodiment of a new American archetype: The Civic Entrepreneur. He is simultaneously building brands, rewriting what veteran success looks like, and helping shape nationally recognized observances that will outlive any product or pitch.

His leadership ensures that these movements remain inclusive, actionable, and above all — self-funded, proving that impact doesn’t require permission — just vision, grit, and strategic partnerships.

Follow the journey:

• Disability:IN Announcement

• National Invest In America Week Leadership

Fresno Invests in Veteran-Owned Businesses: A Local Ordinance Echoing a National Movement

www.investinveteransweek.com

When Fresno City Councilmembers Nick Richardson and Nelson Esparza introduced the Small-Enterprise Relief for Veteran Entrepreneurs (SERVE) Act on May 22, 2025, they were not simply drafting a local ordinance—they were activating a philosophy long championed by our organization: investment as a civic imperative.

Councilmember Esparza’s words captured this ethos clearly:

“When we invest in those who have served, we’re investing in leadership, innovation, and the values that define our community.”

At National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW), this belief defines everything we do.

The SERVE Act—offering exemptions from business tax license fees and waiving up to $1,000 in startup costs for new veteran entrepreneurs—affirms what our movement has long understood: that empowering veteran-owned businesses isn’t a subsidy, it’s a strategic investment in American resilience.

It is also a concrete example of what we call investing in veterans by investing with veterans.

The National Legacy Behind the Local Policy

The SERVE Act in Fresno joins a growing tide of local and regional legislation aligned with the mission of National Invest In Veterans Week®, a movement we launched in 2017 and federally trademarked in 2019. Since our founding:

• We have been recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record (March 8, 2024)

• Expanded across 19 U.S. states and 21 international markets

• Established observances like International Veterans Day℠ (March 3) and Jeff Shuford Impact Day℠ (March 7)

• Inspired regionally aligned efforts such as National Invest In America Week℠ (July 1–7)—a modern revival of President Nixon’s 1970 proclamation on economic patriotism

This is more than symbolism. It’s infrastructure—digital, legislative, and community-based.

Fresno’s SERVE Act exemplifies this national infrastructure in motion. By removing fiscal and bureaucratic barriers for veteran entrepreneurs, the city is not just honoring military service; it is activating economic service—with veterans at the helm.

The Shuford Legacy: From National Anthem to Economic Doctrine

This idea of “investing in those who’ve invested in us” has deep roots in our founding team. Jeff Shuford, co-founder of NIVW and retired veteran, is the grandson of Jim Freeman, founding member of The Five Satins and co-author of “In the Still of the Night.”

Jim Freeman was selected to support President Nixon’s 1972 reelection campaign through a patriotic revival music tour—a cultural strategy recorded in the Nixon Presidential Library.

Three years earlier, Nixon had declared the original National Invest-in-America Week:

“Without the private investor, America would simply not be the country we know and love.” — President Nixon, April 27, 1970

Decades later, Jeff Shuford would reinterpret this doctrine into civic infrastructure: trademarking National Invest In Veterans Week®, building Veterans.International, and codifying the Invest In America Challenge™, all while remaining an independent, self-funded advocate of veteran empowerment.

Fresno's Model: Micro-Investment, Macro-Impact

The SERVE Act may seem modest in fiscal scope—waiving fees, covering initial licenses—but it unlocks a broader paradigm:

• Cost relief becomes growth capital

• Policy becomes partnership

• Local government becomes an investor in national capacity

Veteran entrepreneurs like Navy veteran Austin Naes, founder of MAYHEM Fitness in Fresno, understand this deeply:

“That’s more money we can invest into equipment, hopefully expand our facility so we can cater more to the community.”

This local action resonates with the ethos we’ve cultivated across every domain, podcast, magazine, and regional alliance under our umbrella.

Conclusion: The Future of Veteran Empowerment Is Regionalized Investment

Fresno’s proposed ordinance may begin as a city-level act—but its philosophy belongs to a much larger movement. One where cities, counties, and regions actively invest in leadership, not just commemorate it.

From a single ordinance in California to national observances recognized by Congress, we continue to affirm:

To invest in veterans is not charity. It is strategic civic capital.
And Fresno’s SERVE Act is investing wisely.

For more on how National Invest In Veterans Week® supports veteran-led economic development, visit:
www.investinveteransweek.com

Or explore how your city can activate the Invest In America Challenge™ at:
www.investinamericaweek.com

Let us help your region invest in the future—by investing with those who served.