Residents of six hard-hit New Jersey counties hard hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ida will be eligible for federal assistance under a disaster declaration declared Sunday by President Joe Biden.
Biden took action less than two days before he is scheduled to visit Manville on Tuesday, one of the areas hardest hit by last week’s storms, which were blamed for the deaths of at least 27 people. On Thursday, he issued an emergency declaration making state and local governments in all 21 counties eligible for federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Under the latest declaration, residents and business owners who suffered losses in Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset counties will be able to request assistance beginning Monday online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362). The TTY number for the hearing or speech impaired is 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Calls will be accepted seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Under the declaration, residents and business owners will be eligible for a series of federal programs, including low-cost loans for property losses not covered by insurance, and grants for temporary shelter and home repairs.
In addition, state ad local governments and some nonprofit organizations in those same counties can receive federal funding for emergency work and repairing or replacing facilities damaged by the storms.
Additional counties could be added as authorities continue to assess damage throughout the state.
Separately, residents and businesses throughout the state will be eligible for federal funds to help cover the costs of measures designed to address future disasters.
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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at @JDSalant.
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