Governor Chris Christie Announces Federal Disaster Aid Has Been Approved for All 21 New Jersey Counties 

Individual Assistance Approved for Burlington, Hudson, Mercer, Ocean and Union counties, making New Jerseyans in all 21 counties eligible for direct relief

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Drewniak 

Sunday, September 4, 2011 Kevin Roberts

609-777-2600

Trenton, NJ ? Governor Chris Christie today announced that the federal government has approved New Jersey?s request for disaster assistance for New Jerseyans impacted by Hurricane Irene in all 21 counties. Individual and public assistance were approved for Burlington, Hudson, Ocean and Union counties, and individual assistance was approved for Mercer county, following the public assistance eligibility granted yesterday. Every New Jersey county has now been approved for both individual and public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

New Jersey residents and small businesses in all 21 counties are now eligible to apply for different types of federal assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement or other needs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

Public assistance eligibility for all 21 counties allows state, eligible local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations to apply for federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene.

Survivors of Hurricane Irene in every New Jersey county who suffered damage should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency ? even if they have insurance or aren?t sure they are eligible.

Register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Specialists are standing by at the toll-free numbers seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, until further notice. Help in other languages is available. Or you can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.You can also apply through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov and following the link to ?apply online for federal assistance.?

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www.nj.gov/governor/

Governor Chris Christie Announces Federal Disaster Aid Approved for Additional New Jersey Counties 

Individual Assistance Extended to Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex and Salem Counties; Individual and Public Assistance Approved for Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Sussex and Warren Counties; Public Assistance Approved for Mercer County

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Drewniak

Saturday, September 3, 2011 Kevin Roberts

609-777-2600

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today announced that the federal government has approved disaster assistance for New Jerseyans impacted by Hurricane Irene in additional counties, providing direct assistance to individuals and households in the aftermath of the historic hurricane. Individuals in a total of 16 New Jersey counties are now eligible for federal disaster relief. Governor Christie previously requested assistance for all 21 New Jersey counties, but damage assessments need to be concluded before individual assistance can be granted to the remaining counties of Burlington, Hudson, Mercer, Ocean and Union.

New Jersey residents and small businesses in the following 16 counties are now eligible for Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Atlantic, Bergen, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren.

Eligibility allows New Jerseyans to apply for different types of assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement or other needs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

All 16 of the counties have also been approved by the federal government as eligible for public assistance, which includes federal funding. Additionally, Mercer County was also approved for public assistance. Funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene. Survivors of Hurricane Irene who suffered damage should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency – even if they have insurance or aren’t sure they are eligible.

Residents of the five counties that have yet to be declared eligible for individual assistance by the federal government are being encouraged to begin the process of registering with FEMA for relief.

Register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Specialists are standing by at the toll-free numbers seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, until further notice. Help in other languages is available. Or you can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.You can also apply through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov and following the link to “apply online for federal assistance.” 

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www.nj.gov/governor/

SITUATION REPORT # 39

NEW JERSEY STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

September 1, 2011, 11:00 AM

CURRENT SYNOPSIS:

The NJROIC operational level remains at a Level IV operational status. The SEOC is coordinating sheltering efforts, resource requests, EMAC requests and evacuation efforts throughout the State.  The 8/25/11 statewide State of Emergency remains in effect.

INCIDENTS

President Obama has issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR#4021) for the State of New Jersey due to damage caused by Hurricane Irene. The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals (Individual Assistance - IA) in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties. Federal funding will also be available to state and eligible local governments (Public Assistance - PA) and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene in the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem. Damage surveys are still continuing in other areas of the state and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the damage assessments are fully completed.

POWER

Current Outages as of 1030 hrs: 98,150 customers without service. The increase is due to a squirrel shorting out a temporary line supplying 15,000 customers

JCPL:  67,650 customers out

Sussex: 10,600

Warren: 3,150

Morris: 13,350

Essex: 3,150

Union: 3,650

Somerset: 5,800

Hunterdon: 5,800

Middlesex: 650

Mercer: 400

Monmouth: 18,800

Ocean: 200

Burlington: 300

PSEG:  29,500 customers out

Bergen: 15,000

Burlington: 100

Essex: 700

Mercer: 100

Middlesex: 3,300

Passaic: 1,400

Somerset: 2,900

Union: 6,300

ACE: 150 customers out

Mostly in Gloucester Co.

O&R: 1,850 customers out

Bergen: 1,300

Passaic: 550

Gas Outages as of 1000 hours are:

PSEG:  2,424 customers shut off due to flooding

E-Town Gas:  438 customers shut off due to flooding

Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station - NJDEP reported on 8/31/11 at 2000 hours that Unit #1 was at 69 percent, Unit #2 was at 90 percent.  This was due to debris blocking intakes.  Unit #1 is currently at 80 percent, Unit #2 at 90 percent and Hope Creek is at 100 percent.  PSE&G is monitoring the situation and will return to 100 percent when conditions are appropriate.

 Boil Water Advisories in Effect (as of 1030 hours 9/1/11) 

• Hightstown Water Department in Mercer County
• New Jersey American Short Hills Water System in West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Irvington, Summit, Springfield, and Florham Park
• Livingston Township Water Department in Essex County
• Forest Lakes Water Company which serves portions of Andover Township and Byram Township in Sussex County
• Sussex Water Department in Sussex Borough, Sussex County
• United Water - Vernon Valley in part of Vernon Township, Sussex County
• United Water - Woodridge Estates (part of Vernon Township, Sussex County)

C.  EVACUATIONS (As of 10:00 hours)

Morris County: Residents evacuated 6,545

Pequannock evacuated 800 residents

Parsippany evacuated 5,000 residents

Lincoln Park evacuated 700 residents

E. Hanover evacuated 45 residents

Passaic County: Residents evacuated 3,508

Paterson: evacuated 1,500 residents

Woodland Park: evacuated 550 residents

Totowa: evacuated 300 residents

Little Falls: evacuated 410 residents

Bloomingdale: evacuated 18 residents

Wayne: evacuated 278 residents

Pompton Lakes: evacuated 350 residents

Hawthorne: evacuated 102 residents

Essex County: Residents evacuated 156

Fairfield: evacuated 156 residents

SHELTERS (Updated at 1000 hours)

• TOTAL PERSONS SHELTERED: 553

SIGNIFICANT ROAD CLOSURES:

• 15 ONGOING INCIDENTS

Burlington

•  US 130 Southbound, Ward Av, (MM56.3) , Bordentown Twp, right lane closed – Sinkhole

Hudson

• I-280 Eastbound, CR 508, (MM16.7) , Kearny, ramp closed – Flooding

Mercer

• NJ 29 Both Directions, CR 546/Washington Crossing Rd, (MM12.0) , Hopewell Twp, all lanes closed and detoured -Emergency  construction
• NJ 33 Both Directions, West of CR 571/Stockton St, (MM14.1) , Hightstown, all lanes closed and detoured - Emergency construction
•  US 206 Both Directions, CR 533/Quaker Rd, (MM52.5) , Princeton Twp, all lanes closed and detoured - Emergency construction

Middlesex

• NJ 35 Southbound, Ernston Rd, (MM48.0) , Sayreville, right lane closed for repairs – Sinkhole

Morris

• US 46 Both Directions, East of NJ 159/Bloomfield Av, (MM52.0) , Montville Twp, all lanes closed - Flooding   
• US 46 Eastbound, CR 615/Howard Blvd, (MM33.8) , Roxbury Twp, WB lanes have one lane open in each direction- Sinkhole

Passaic

•  I-80 Eastbound, Exit 53 - NJ 23/US 46, (MM53.6) , Wayne Twp, partial ramp closed - Flooding
• NJ 20 Both Directions, Broadway, (MM1.9) , Paterson, all lanes closed and detoured - Flooding
• NJ 23 Both Directions, South of CR 631/Main St, (MM4.3) , Little Falls Twp, all lanes closed - Flooding
• NJ 23 Both Directions, US 202, (MM6.8) , Wayne Twp, ramp closed and detoured - Flooding
  
  
     

JOINT  INFORMATION CENTER

MEDIA RELEASE

Governor Chris Christie  s Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno

Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes, Director, State office of Emergency Management

JOINT  INFORMATION CENTER

MEDIA RELEASE

Governor Chris Christie  s Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno

Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes, Director, State office of Emergency Management

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                    Contact: Lawrence Hajna           (609) 984-1795 (DEP)

Aug. 31, 2011                                                    Lawrence Ragonese     (609) 292-2994 (DEP)

                                                                          Dawn Thomas              (609) 984-7160 (DHSS)

                        SHELLFISH HARVEST BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT

TRENTON - The Department of Environmental Protection and State Department of Health and Senior Services today reminded commercial and recreational harvesters that all shellfish beds in the state remain closed as a result of the passage of Hurricane Irene.

The Department of Health and Senior Services urges commercial and recreational harvesters, certified shellfish dealers, and the public to observe all harvesting restrictions because ingesting shellfish from closed beds could potentially cause illness.

The commercial harvest ban has been in effect since Aug. 27 due to concerns about degradation of water quality in more than 720,000 acres of shellfish beds in the state’s ocean waters and estuaries. Bivalves such as clams, oysters and mussels are filter feeders that can accumulate harmful bacteria carried into waterways by stormwater.

Testing this week indicated that bacteria levels exceeded the federal criteria set to protect the public in the consumption of shellfish.

The DEP will continue to test waters at shellfish beds across the state. Once the water meets the federal standard, a minimum of seven days must pass before the tissue is tested to ensure no bacteria are present in the shellfish. This process ensures bacteria have had a chance to be flushed from the shellfish.

The DEP works with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure that shellfish are safely harvested in state waters.

The DEP monitors, classifies and enforces shellfish regulations in 425,830 acres of estuarine beds and 295,857 acres of ocean beds.

The DHSS Food Safety Program regularly inspects shellfish processing plants to ensure they follow regulations that outline health and safety precautions. Shellfish samples are regularly collected from harvest areas, certified shellfish dealers and retailers for bacteriological examination.

The program oversees a certification program which requires all wholesale shellfish dealers to handle, process, and ship shellfish under sanitary conditions and maintain records verifying that the shellfish were obtained from approved areas.

For results of water tests conducted this week by the DEP, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/bmw.

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