WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama gave Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean counties an early Christmas present by declaring the region a disaster after it was hit by severe storms and flooding associated with Tropical Depression Ida and a Nor’easter that occurred Nov. 11-15.
“This federal disaster reimbursement will help our coastal communities in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties to recover from last month’s devastating storms without causing the economic hurdles that so often keep communities from recovering from a disaster event,” Gov. Jon S. Corzine said.
According to the disaster declaration, federal assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities is available in the three southern counties.
Of the three affected counties, Cape May County was hit the hardest.
Emergency Management Director Frank McCall told the Herald that the storm caused an estimated $27.3 million in damage to Cape May County. Coastal flooding on the barrier island communities was significant, he said.
“We are delighted that our request to the federal government through the state was honored,” McCall said.
He said that the disaster declaration couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time with county coffers depleted at the end of the year and local governments in the beginning of next year restricted to operating at 25 percent of the previous year’s budget until they adopt a new one.
“This disaster declaration will allow municipalities to rebuild their coastal infrastructure before the summer season of 2010 begins,” he added. “This would not have been possible without the fine work of my emergency management peers in all the municipalities throughout the county.”
According to published reports, damage in Atlantic County was estimated at $3 million and at $19.4 million in Ocean County.
U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) and his colleague John Adler (D-3rd) along with New Jersey’s U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg (both D) Dec. 22 announced that the three South Jersey counties would receive direct federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair damaged public infrastructure and reimburse emergency response activities.
“Mere hours before the Christmas holiday, this disaster declaration is welcome news for coastal communities and countless residents in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties who are still assessing and repairing the extensive damage caused by the November nor’easter,” said LoBiondo.
“I am pleased the President recognized the need for federal assistance for our coastal communities, allowing them to rebuild critical public infrastructure that is crucial for the local economy and the safety of residents.”
“We requested this declaration to bring relief to hard-hit Shore communities, and I applaud President Obama for recognizing this need,” Menendez added.
“This action will help expand and speed the recovery process to bring a sense of normalcy to families and businesses as soon as possible. This is vital for residents in our coastal communities, and it is vital for the New Jersey economy, which relies heavily on the Jersey Shore to generate activity.”
On Dec. 1, LoBiondo, Menendez, Adler and Lautenberg wrote to President Obama in support of Corzine’s Nov. 25 request for the federal disaster declaration. They were joined by other members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation on the letter.
All New Jersey counties, however, are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which would help pay for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
McCall said the disaster declaration process is now entering its third phase.
The first phase was an initial assessment done within 48 hours of the storm. McCall referred to that phase as a “windshield phase, down and dirty quick assessment.”
During the second “derivative” phase, McCall insisted that representatives from FEMA, the state Office of Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Community Affairs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Small Business Administration accompany county disaster officials to survey the damage in each of the affected municipalities.
McCall said the third phase is the most important because now “checks will be written.” He said a regional disaster office would be designated, likely in a central location in Atlantic County and the damage evaluation to local municipalities will be evaluated again.
McCall noted that he is requesting a similar disaster declaration for the most recent snowstorm that dumped record snowfalls on the county.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
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