President Biden Declares NJ A Major Disaster Area: What It Means

NEW JERSEY — On Sunday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in the state of New Jersey due to the unprecedented damage and flooding from Hurricane Ida.

Biden's declaration marks the availability of extra federal funding to people who live in the counties of Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset, all areas that experienced either fatal flooding or home-destroying tornadoes.

However, the counties of Essex and Union were left off the federal government's list, to the disappointment of residents and elected officials there.

"I am shocked and angry that FEMA did not include Essex County as an area eligible for FEMA relief dollars," wrote Montclair Mayor Sean Spillar in a letter he posted publicly on his Facebook page. "Given the devastation that our residents, businesses and township had experienced, it is impossible to comprehend how FEMA determined we would not be granted assistance."

Spillar said he and Gov. Phil Murphy were working "in demanding" Essex County be added to the FEMA list.

Gov. Murphy tweeted Monday morning: "We’re working with the federal government to get additional counties added and New Jerseyans the support they need."

"My team and I have been on the phone with FEMA and local officials advocating for needed relief for our towns," said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D), who represents part of Montclair. "I stand with Gov. Murphy and counties like Essex asking that a major disaster declaration be issued for those counties who have been hit hardest."

What Biden's disaster declaration means for you

If you live or own a business in the the counties on Biden's list, and sustained storm-related losses, you can begin applying for assistance Tuesday, Sept. 7 by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Things FEMA will help pay for include home repairs, temporary housing, low-cost loans and other programs to help recover from the effects of the storm.

President Biden is set to tour Manville on Tuesday. Manville is the site where a home exploded and another burned down Thursday because firefighters were unable to reach the home due to the flooding.

In South Jersey, Ida sparked three confirmed tornadoes in Gloucester and Burlington counties. Read more: 3 Tornadoes Confirmed In NJ Following Ida's Historic Wrath

27 dead across New Jersey as of Monday

Across New Jersey, the death toll from the flooding stands at 27 as of Monday, and four still missing. New Jersey suffered the highest number of Ida-related deaths of all the U.S. states.

“Currently, we have no additional fatalities to report," said Gov. Murphy Labor Day from Lambertville. “Our thoughts and prayers are with every family and community mourning a loved one and of those who remain missing.”

The most up-to-date death toll from the Gov.'s office, as per Monday:

Among the missing are two college students who are believed to have been swept away in flood waters.

Dive teams were searching for the pair, Nidhi Rana, a Seton Hall student, and Ayush Rana, a Montclair State student, who were last seen about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday getting out of their car near a storm drain that empties into the Passaic River.

On Saturday, those teams called off the search for the two, CBS New York reported.

An Edison man, 31, drowned in South Plainfield Wednesday night: He and another man were swept into a 36-inch storm sewer pipe. Police were helping drivers in the area of Hadley and Stelton Road when they heard cries for help. One of the men was rescued, while the other could not be located. On Thursday, authorities discovered his body in a wooded area behind 1380 Centennial Avenue in Piscataway. Read that story on the Edison Patch.

Suffered storm losses and damage? What the federal government can give you:

Assistance can include 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 from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also eligible to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in the counties of Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset.

Also on Monday, Murphy announced that the state of New Jersey has launched a data collection portal to gather data from impacted individuals outside of the six counties where FEMA has declared the Major Disaster Declaration. This is so FEMA and the state can evaluate damage in other counties. Read more: $10M Ida Storm Aid Proposed For Small NJ Businesses: Murphy

The portal will ensure that all Ida damages across New Jersey is evaluated for potential FEMA assistance. The state portal will record basic information including name, location, damages and cost, and need from impacted residents and businesses. It is accessible at nj.gov/ida and damagenj-njoem.hub.arcgis.com

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