New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-13) is urging the Administrator of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to add Monmouth County to New Jersey's recent disaster declaration, making residents of the county eligible for federal assistance.President Obama declared New Jersey a disaster area on Wednesday, making affected residents and business owners in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Somerset counties eligible for a variety of federal grants and loans to cover uninsured losses. Kyrillos is calling for Monmouth County to be added to this list.
"Last weekend’s storm wreaked havoc on the entire state, including Monmouth County, causing power outages, sever flooding and extensive property damage," Kyrillos stated. "Public infrastructure such as roads and bridges were closed for days, families and businesses were without power and the extensive damage to trees, buildings and power lines will be a huge cost to the public. We need the same federal assistance that other New Jersey counties are receiving.
Published reports indicated that Monmouth County sheltered 2,200 people in the Colts Neck, Holmdel and Wall high schools, and provided 4,500 meals. Governor Christie has also called on the President to declare that a major disaster area exists statewide in order to provide federal financial assistance to governments, residents and businesses.
"I urge in the strongest possible terms that the Administrator of FEMA add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey's disaster areas," Kyrillos continued. "This is an accurate designation given what residents, business owners and municipalities endured during this devastating storm.”
A copy of the letter follows:
September 1, 2011
Mr. W. Craig Fugate
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
Dear Administrator Fugate:
Hurricane Irene’s record rainfall and high winds caused significant damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure in Monmouth County, New Jersey. I respectfully urge you to add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey counties qualifying for a disaster declaration.
The combination of high tides, extreme flooding and strong winds ruined electric substations. Additionally, high winds, combined with saturated soils caused trees and other vegetation to bring down power lines. This combination of factors has caused dangerous power outages across the County. As of yesterday more than 52,000 Monmouth electric customers were without power, more than four days after Hurricane Irene.
Our major county electric utility has also advised that it may be several more days before power is restored. The damage to homes and businesses has forced families to eat out, rip out carpets, purchase generators and replace major appliances in a very difficult economic climate.
As you might imagine, people are suffering, particularly the old or infirm.
Further, flooding has caused extreme damage to Monmouth’s transportation network including the closure of major roadways.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward towards speaking with you on this issue in the immediate future.
Sincerely,
Joe Kyrillos
Senator, 13th Legislative District
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