Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged New Jersey residents to take precautions as a five-day heat wave coincides with the busy Fourth of July holiday travel period.

Speaking Wednesday at the Statewide Traffic Management Center in Fords, the governor outlined the state’s efforts to help residents stay safe during the prolonged stretch of extreme heat and offered tips for staying cool and avoiding heat-related illness.

“I want to be clear: the weather is historic and dangerous,” Sherrill said. “This is not the type of heat wave we’ve seen in a while. This is extreme, extreme heat.”

Gov. Sherrill said she is launching a coordinated effort across state government agencies to manage and address threats caused by the heat.

“We’re literally connected because we’re all on the same power grid,” Sherrill said. “Help save some energy and save yourself some money,” she said, encouraging residents to conserve power during the upcoming period of high demand.

"Extreme heat is the number one weather-related killer in America. More than hurricanes, more than floods, more than extreme cold combined," Sherrill said.

Resources and more information are available at nj.gov/heat.