Hurricane Sandy Recovery

Our district was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. I have never seen worse storm damage in our area in my lifetime. Recovery will take a long time, but we will get through it together. I would like to thank our emergency responders, all of the volunteers who continue to work tirelessly throughout our region and everyone who has donated to help our community recover.

In this section you will find information about important resources, disaster assistance and helping our community recover.  We will continue to update it as we learn more.

Residents of the Sixth District should feel free to contact my offices in Long Branch at (732) 571-1140, New Brunswick at (732) 249-8892 or Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-4671 for important information or to contact my staff for help.

Important Phone Numbers:

  • Red Cross: 800-733-2767
  • FEMA: 800-621-3362
  • NJ State Police: 609-882-2000
  • FEMA Housing Portal to find rental units and temporary housing options: FEMA.gov/HousingPortal.         
  • Free legal help for victims of Hurricane Sandy: 888-541-1900
  • New Jersey Hope and Healing offers mental health services for survivors in need. Call 877-294-HELP (4357)
  • Public Health Questions about food and water safety and mold removal: 2-1-1 or 1-866-234-0964
  • NJ Department of Education for questions about the schooling options after Sandy: 609-292-2070
  • Survivors can call 800-427-4661 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday with questions on filing flood claims and finding out the status claims. Note: This numbers should only be used if a policyholder has NOT been able to get a response from their insurance company. 

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers:

  • Union Beach Municipal Building: 650 Poole Ave, Keyport
  • Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 Highway 36, Leonardo

 

Rumor Control: There has been a lot of misinformation regarding the response and recovery effort for Hurricane Sandy. Check FEMA "Rumor Control"  for an on-going list of rumors and their true or false status: http://www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy-rumor-control

Avoiding Frauds and Scams: FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline: 866-720-5721

Critical Safety Tips:

Despite the fact that the worst of the storm has passed, conditions are still dangerous. Please heed all directions from local and state officials.

  • If you are just coming home, view FEMA's detailed tips to avoid hazards and stay safe.
  • Do not touch fallen or low-hanging wires under any circumstances. Stay away from puddles with wires in/near them. Do not touch trees or other objects in contact with power lines. Stay at least 300 feet away from downed wires. Immediately call PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734 or JCP&L at 1-888-544-4877.
  • Use 9-1-1 for emergencies only.
  • Call utility companies immediately to report hazards such as downed power lines, broken gas or water mains, overturned gas tanks, etc.
  • Watch for weakened roads, tree limbs or porches that could collapse unexpectedly.
  • After power is restored, check refrigerated food for spoilage. Food can spoil two days to a week after the storm and cause sickness.
  • When reinstalling TV or satellite antenna, check in all directions to be sure no power lines are nearby. The same goes for climbing trees to clear debris.
  • Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors.