HOBOKEN, N.J. –(ENEWSPF)–November 5, 2012. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano yesterday traveled to New Jersey where she met with state and local officials, first responders and volunteers to discuss ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Sandy. Secretary Napolitano reiterated the ongoing support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the rest of the federal family as local communities continue to respond to and recover from the storm.
“Across New Jersey and all the impacted states, we are continuing to deploy people, assets, and resources in response to this storm,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The federal government, including FEMA and all of DHS, is here to support this recovery and we are going to stand together with you, make sure resources are getting to you, and continue to help you recover from this devastating storm.”
In Monmouth County, N.J., Secretary Napolitano visited a shelter at Monmouth University and the FEMA Emergency Operations Center and Point of Distribution (POD) site at the Holy Family School where she met with Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith and other state and local officials to view response and recovery efforts.
Secretary Napolitano then traveled to Hoboken, N.J., where she visited a food pantry at the Hoboken Elks Club and the FEMA mobile Disaster Recovery Center with Governor Chris Christie, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, U.S. Representative Albio Sires, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer and other state and local officials to discuss coordination among federal, state and local partners on response and recovery efforts throughout the region.
In support of New York and New Jersey, FEMA has transferred resources such as food, water, and fuel to the states to distribute to individuals at POD sites. POD sites are centralized points where supplies are delivered and the public travels to the site to pick up commodities following a disaster or emergency. The state, in coordination with local governments, identifies the location of the PODs which are currently operating in hard-hit disaster areas. Individuals should contact their local emergency management office for more information.
President Obama declared a major disaster for New Jersey on Oct. 30. This action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Union.
This federal assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business-owners recover. Those in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA). The number is toll free and will operate from 7 am to 10 pm seven days a week.
For more information, visit www.fema.gov.
Source: dhs.gov
