Pallone Applauds Major Disaster Declaration for 11 Counties in New Jersey Hit Hard by Tropical Storm Isaias

Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) applauded the Major Disaster Declaration issued to New Jersey today for the damage inflicted on New Jersey by Tropical Storm Isaias. In October, Pallone sent a congressional letter with U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker to President Trump supporting Governor Phil Murphy's request for a Major Disaster Declaration. The declaration makes the state eligible for more federal resources as areas recover from damage caused by the storm that battered New Jersey in August. The declaration covers 11 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Salem, and Sussex.

"Tropical Storm Isaias caused significant damage to homes and businesses and left thousands of my constituents struggling with prolonged power outages. The coronavirus pandemic has strained state and local resources, making the federal funding that this declaration provides even more important," Congressman Pallone said. "I'm thankful for Governor Murphy and the entire New Jersey Congressional delegation for their efforts to get New Jersey the federal support it needs."

"This is much needed federal relief for New Jersey and the 11 counties that were hit hard by Tropical Storm Isaias. From the torrential downpours to the high winds, communities, already strapped for resources were burdened with the high cost of debris removal and widespread power outages," Senator Menendez said. "This will reimburse the communities that faced storm damage and allow them to prepare for future storms."

In the letter, the lawmakers noted that the statewide damage assessment was more than double the threshold set for fiscal year 2020, straining already strapped state and local resources, and that the majority of the costs relate to debris removal.

In August, Pallone led the entire New Jersey delegation in the House of Representatives in calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend its deadline for the State of New Jersey to finalize its Preliminary Damage Assessment in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias. He also demanded answers from JCP&L's company executives on its failure to adequately prepare for and respond to major storms and called on the company to reimburse customers for food and medications lost as a result of the storm's prolonged power outages.