Acting Governor’s Visit to Wildwood Aids in Disaster Designation

WILDWOOD – A Feb. 4 visit to this city by Acting Governor Kim Guadagno not only showed state officials the devastation caused by Winter Storm Jonas and its impact on the residents and property owners of Five Mile Island, it may have been the impetus that caused the governor’s office to ask federal officials for a federal disaster declaration to allow municipalities to be compensated for public damage, overtime and debris removal.
“Acting Gov. Guadagno visited the city on Jan. 25 and she came back to Wildwood as part of the state agencies’ visit to our Convention Center to assist with the aftermath of the storm,” said Wildwood Commissioner Tony Leonetti. “She came back to help.”
“The flooding was much more serious than anyone thought it would be,” Leonetti said. “When she came down she realized how bad it was here in Wildwood as well as in our neighboring communities. She was surprised by the devastation.” 
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano attended the convention center event with City Administrator Christopher Fox, who also serves as Mayor of West Wildwood, said he and the commissioners will do everything they can to help people who have been hurt by this storm.
Leonetti said most of the damage experienced in the city was on the west side. Jonas’ wrath included high tides on the city’s bayside of 9.22 feet. Hurricane Sandy’s bayside high tide was 8.26 feet.
During her visit to the convention center, Guadagno stopped by individual agencies’ tables to speak with flood victims. Leonetti noted that during a conversation with one victim, the acting governor offered one storm victim her personal cell phone number to assist with cutting through any red tape.  “It was fantastic.  The acting governor didn’t even flinch.  She just took out her card and gave the woman her cell phone number. That really impressed me.”
Leonetti said he feels meeting flood victims and seeing the storm’s devastating effects on property owners played a large role in Guadagno’s report back to officials in Trenton.
Feb. 11, the governor’s office stated it would seek a disaster designation for municipalities throughout Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean and Cumberland counties to help offset the costs to repair public property and reimburse municipalities for clean up.
“This incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected county and local governments,” stated Gov. Chris Christie. The governor’s office stated none of the municipalities affected by Jonas sustained enough private property damage to ask for individual federal assistance. 
“Along with the mayors of North Wildwood and West Wildwood, I will be authoring a letter to the governor encouraging the state to give financial assistance not only to municipalities, but to individual residents, especially those without insurance,” said Mayor Troiano. 
Leonetti, however, said he remains optimistic officials in Trenton will change their mind. During a conversation with Guadagno at a Feb. 6 Cape May County political function, the commissioner reiterated the need for post-Jonas federal aid. 
“The acting governor and other state officials have seen our plight,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic that Trenton will help us and ask for additional funding to be released to help individual homeowners.”