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Funds could cover blizzard damages, cleanup costs
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Acting Gov. Stephen M. Sweeney Tuesday directed Gov. Chris Christie's top aides to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster aid to cover damages and costs stemming from the Sunday blizzard.
Sweeney sent a message to Richard Bagger, Christie's chief of staff, and Jeff Chiesa, the governor's chief counsel.
"As you are aware ... (the) blizzard caused significant disruption and hardship for New Jersey's residents, business owners, and local governments," Sweeney wrote. "I have spoken with numerous mayors throughout the state, both during the storm and this morning. They report that the snowfall of nearly three feet in some areas, combined with wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour, has resulted in significant damage and placed tremendous strain on local government budgets."
Sweeney asked Bagger and Chiesa to determine what counties were hardest hit by the storm, which could make them eligible for federal disaster aid and hazard mitigation assistance.Elizabeth and Toms River reported as much as 30 inches or more of snow from the coastal storm while Hackettstown and Flemington received no more than 7 inches.
"Based on this information, I direct you to assemble a formal request to FEMA for disaster aid in those counties most severely impacted by the blizzard," Sweeney concluded.
Sweeney, the Democratic Senate president from Gloucester County is serving as acting governor while Christie and his family vacation in Orlando, Fla. and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and her family vacation in Mexico. They were out of state when the blizzard struck.
