Governor Chris Christie Announces Federal Disaster Aid Approved for Four New Jersey Counties for Storm Damage Incurred from June 23rd Macroburst
Federal Government Approves Public Assistance for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Contact: Brian Murray
Nicole Sizemore
609-777-2600
Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today announced that President Obama has granted the State’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties as the result of severe thunderstorms and straight-line winds on June 23, 2015. High winds and heavy rain downed trees, power-poles and electric wires and caused 330,100 customers to lose power. The macroburst, as the storm has been classified by the National Weather Service, damaged buildings, roadways, and infrastructure, and left a trail of debris. The declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to initiate its Public Assistance grant program to assist the impacted areas.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of eligible public facilities damaged by the disaster.
On July 13, 2015, Governor Christie formally requested a Major Disaster Declaration under the federal Stafford Act for the four southern New Jersey counties that sustained in excess of $15 million in damages as the result of severe thunderstorms and straight-line winds on June 23, 2015.
The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management will continue to coordinate the recovery effort with local, county and federal partners in these affected counties.
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