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BY NOAH COHEN
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Gov. Jon Corzine declared a state of emergency in six counties Sunday in a move officials said was a step toward a possible presidential disaster declaration after a powerful nor'easter hammered the region.
The six counties – Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, Burlington, Ocean and Monmouth – were battered with more than three days of severe weather caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Ida.
The emergency executive order signed by Corzine, allows National Guard troops to be deployed, state agencies to reassign staff and resources to be quickly deployed in impacted areas.
"This situation has proven to be too large in scope to be handled by the normal county- and municipal-operating services in some parts of this State, and the aftermath of this situation may spread to other parts of the State," said the order.It is expected Corzine will ask President Barack Obama to declare a federal disaster in the affected counties, making federal assistance available along with funds to cover the cost of storm-related damages. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been monitoring the situation and will work with state officials to review preliminary assessments, a FEMA spokesman said.
A federal preliminary disaster assessment normally comes before a formal request for a presidential disaster declaration and is designed to show that an effective response would be beyond the ability of state and local authorities.
State officials declined to provide a damage estimate and said data was still being collected from county authorities. In a conference call with reporters Sunday, State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes did say several hundred homes and 50 to 100 businesses had been affected by the storm.
"Until we have hard numbers in front of us, I would be very hesitant to project cost figures," state police Maj. Dennis McNulty, deputy director of the state Office of Emergency Management said.
There were no mandatory evacuations, however, voluntary evacuations were reported in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, McNulty said. Although the executive order allows for opening shelters, no emergency shelters were setup and most affected likely made other arrangements, he said.
McNulty said this storm dropped less rain than other nor'easters, with only about 1 to 4 inches reported. Barrier islands in Atlantic and Cape May counties were hit with heavy flooding from constant rain and three high-tide cycles.
High onshore winds, flooding and beach erosion caused the most significant damage, emergency management officials said.
In addition to flooding, the Townsend's Inlet Bridge connecting Avalon and Sea Isle City was closed after a barge came loose from its mooring and crashed into the bridge's supports Wednesday night. Officials said the storm had prevented engineers from assessing the damage and the bridge would remain closed until Nov. 19 or 20.
"Once repairs are made and it is determined that there is no additional structural damage, the bridge will be re-opened to traffic," Cape May County Bridge Commission Executive Director Stephen O'Connor said in a statement.
No fatalities were reported on land, however, three fishermen were reported missing after a boat they were aboard sank during harsh weather 20 miles east of Cape May Wednesday. The Coast Guard suspended the search for the men Thursday citing dangerous weather including high winds, rough surf and 15 to 20 foot seas.
Fuentes praised the efforts of local and county first responders during the days long operation. "They were not overwhelmed by it (the storm), they were ready for it and they looked out for their residents in a fantastic way," he said.
Corzine called the work of local responders "laudable" in his executive order.
