Hurricane Sandy

NJ's Hurricane Sandy Assistance Reaches Nearly $800M

New Jersey residents affected by Sandy have until March 1 to register for disaster assistance.

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from FEMA While New Jersey survivors of Hurricane Sandy have until March 1 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance, more than $780 million in disaster assistance has been approved to speed recovery. FEMA has approved more than $300 million in housing assistance for more than 52,000 people. Housing assistance includes temporary rental assistance and grants to repair and replace storm-damaged primary residences. More than $42 million has been approved to help survivors replace hurricane-damaged personal property and to help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, …

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FEMA Extends Deadline for NJ Sandy Victims

Jan. 30 is the new deadline to register for disaster assistance.

The following information is provided by FEMA. Survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey now have until January 30, 2013 to register for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.   People with storm losses in all counties can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.   Survivors also can register by phone or 711/VRS by calling 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free telephone numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.   At the request of the state, FEMA extended the registration deadline beyond the original 60 day window due tothe magnitude of the Hurricane Sandy disaster.   The disaster registration process serves as a referral …

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Local Businesses Hit by Sandy Can Join FEMA Call

Conference call with state, federal officials takes place at 2p.m. on Thursday

Small business owners in Westfield who were impacted by Sandy can be included on a conference call at 2 p.m. Thursday with state and federal officials, says the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Business Action Center senior officials will be on the conference call on the federal and state government's efforts to help small businesses and homeowners recover from Tropical Storm Sandy. "Officials will provide updates and answer questions about assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to …

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All State Residents Can Now Apply for Individual FEMA Assistance

Relief available for temporary housing, repairs, loans, etc.

Individuals in every New Jersey county are now eligible to apply for federal disaster relief, the governor's office announced Tuesday. All residents and businesses can now apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The state had already been approved for Public Assistance, which is available to state and local governments as well as nonprofits. Individual Assistance relief allows residents to apply for aid including temporary housing, repair, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration loans. The governor's office advises all residents who suffered damage to apply with FEMA, even if they have their own insurance. Register by calling 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 for those with …

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Hurricane Sandy

County Eligible for Increased Disaster Aid Cost Share

Federal funding has been approved on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

Governor Chris Christie announced that President Barack Obama has approved an adjustment of the federal cost share for Hurricane Sandy, from 75 percent to 100 percent, for 10 days (October 30th to November 9th) for emergency power restoration and emergency public transportation assistance, including direct federal assistance, for those areas of New Jersey within counties designated for public assistance.  The increased reimbursement authority is effective immediately. This increased level of federal assistance program pertains to those areas of New Jersey that were declared a federal disaster area, including Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties. Other forms of Category B assistance will remain …

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Hurricane Sandy

Lance To Host Mobile Office Hours In Cranford

Congressman Leonard Lance will be at the Cranford Community center Friday afternoon.

Congressman Leonard Lance and his staff will hold a mobile office in Cranford on Nov. 2 to assist Union County residents and small businesses with Hurricane Sandy disaster assistance.   The legislator will host office hours from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave., which is also serving as a regional shelter for those displaced by Hurricane Sandy. The day before Hurricane Sandy slammed into the region, Lance met with officials in cranford and Springfield and vowed to make relief efforts a priority following the storm. At Lance’s request, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be on-hand to answer questions and help register individuals who need recovery assistance from those affected by…

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FEMA: Heed Emergency Warnings For 'Large Size' Hurricane

Impact of Hurricane Sandy expected spread over two days, bringing coastal surging, inland flooding and spot rainfalls of up to 12.

Hurricane Sandy's impact on weather along the coast and inland is expected to continue over two days, potentially bringing coastal surges of 6 to 11 feet, and rainfall of up to 12 inches at spots that could cause river and other inland flooding, federal officials said in a press conference on Sunday morning. No matter exactly where or when the hurricane makes landfall, Sandy is a large system that will create potentially life-threatening surges along hundreds of miles of coastline from North Carolina up to Cape Cod, according to spokespersons for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The hurricane's effect, already being felt in the southern part of the mid-Atlantic, will last up to a day before and after the hurricane's actual arrival…

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Sandy Will Be a 'Long-Duration Event,' NOAA Official Says

Hurricane will bring a variety of hazards and up to 8 inches of rain as it wreaks havoc throughout East Coast, according to federal officials.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additional damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between 5 and 8 inches of rain to the affected area, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini said. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

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County Officials: Be 'Calm and Patient' For FEMA Process

Residents seeking disaster-relief money are told to prepare for long process as FEMA waits for all damage assessments to be completed.

Union County officials are urging residents dealing with damages from Hurricane Irene to be patient as they apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration. "We are in the assessment stage," said Union County spokesman Jim Pellettiere. "People are trying to put the cart before the horse. No funding will be made available until preliminary damage assessments are done." In order for a state, county, township or resident to receive FEMA funding, a Federal Disaster Declaration must be issued by the federal agency. Such a declaration can only be made after the governor submits an official disaster request to FEMA that includes the estimated cost of damages sustained by the storm. Providing an accurate statewide report to …

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