Hurricane Sandy

FEMA: Sandy Will Bring Up to 8 Inches of Rain

Heavy wind and large amounts of rainfall will wreak havoc all along the east coast early next week, FEMA officials said.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Extra damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between five and eight inches of rain to the affected area, said NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Sandy Will Be a 'Long-Duration Event,' NOAA Official Says

Hurricane will bring a variety of hazards and up to 8 inches of rain as it wreaks havoc throughout East Coast, according to federal officials.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additional damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between 5 and 8 inches of rain to the affected area, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini said. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

•  41 Comments
• Photos (1)

Springfield Swears in New CERT Members

Many new volunteers recruited from residents of homes flooded in Tropical Storm Irene.

Springfield’s Community Emergency Response Team swelled in ranks this week with the swearing-in of over a dozen members.  The new members completed a nine-week training course with the Clark Office of Emergency Management, learning disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster medical operations. The national CERT program, under the umbrella of FEMA, is a way in which trained volunteers can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. The Springfield members have a personal stake in disaster readiness, with almost all of them flood victims of Tropical Storm Irene. Springfield Office of Emergency Management …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (4)

Jim Bonacorda

12:45 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Thank you for your kind words. It looks like CERT will get its first test with Hurricane Sandy. Jim Bonacorda   more ›

Lance, Army Corps Meet To Discuss Flooding In Cranford

The federal government will provide $225,000 to fund a flood control feasibility study.

This week, Congressman Leonard Lance, NJ-7, met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials to discuss flood control measures for the town of Cranford. Following the meeting the Seventh District lawmaker announced that the federal agency has agreed to provide $225,000 in 2012 to continue funding a flood control feasibility study.  Cranford is also slated to receive $3.1 million from the federal government to help elevate flood-prone homes that were damaged during Hurricane Irene. “I personally witnessed the devastation to Cranford in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene,” said Lance. “Homes were ruined, families were displaced and municipal operations were relocated. Many residents are still feeling the impact of Irene's wrath. It is …

• Photos (1)

FEMA Extends Proof of Loss Deadline for Irene

Deadline for filing proof of loss claims extended to Jan. 23, 2012

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced a 60-day extension for the proof of loss deadline for flood victims of Hurricane Irene from Nov. 23 to Jan. 23, 2012, under the National Flood Insurance Program. The extension goes into effect for flood policyholders in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia with dates of loss between Aug. 26 and Sept. 4. “We've extended the registration deadline for people who–for whatever reason–have not had the opportunity to register for assistance,” said William L. Vogel, FEMA's federal coordinating officer. “The goal is to ensure all …

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)

FEMA Issues Federal Disaster Declaration For Union County

Residents will now be eligible for funding to repair homes that sustained damage in last week's hurricane.

One week after Hurricane Irene barreled through the Northeast, FEMA has issues a Federal Disaster Declaration for Union County, Cranford Mayor Dan Aschenbach said Sunday afternoon.  On Sunday, Assembly Conference Leader Jon Bramnick learned that the federal government has expanded the federal disaster declaration to include Union County.  This change makes residents and business owners eligible for individual, direct federal disaster relief assistance to cover damages caused by Hurricane Irene. "This will be an important step to help our residents get their lives back to order," Aschenbach said Sunday, just minutes after President Barack Obama was scheduled to leave New Jersey after spending part of the day touring Paterson and parts of …

• Photos (1)

County Officials: Be 'Calm and Patient' For FEMA Process

Residents seeking disaster-relief money are told to prepare for long process as FEMA waits for all damage assessments to be completed.

Union County officials are urging residents dealing with damages from Hurricane Irene to be patient as they apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration. "We are in the assessment stage," said Union County spokesman Jim Pellettiere. "People are trying to put the cart before the horse. No funding will be made available until preliminary damage assessments are done." In order for a state, county, township or resident to receive FEMA funding, a Federal Disaster Declaration must be issued by the federal agency. Such a declaration can only be made after the governor submits an official disaster request to FEMA that includes the estimated cost of damages sustained by the storm. Providing an accurate statewide report to …

• Photos (10)

VIDEO: Gov. Promises 'Gentle Pressure' on Utility Companies

Christie said progress has been made to restore power, but doesn't want companies to 'lose focus.'

Gov. Chris Christie said he would keep "my type of gentle pressure" on the heads of New Jersey utility companies until electricity has been restored to all residents. Speaking in Manville, after touring the flood-ravaged borough and a Red Cross emergency shelter housing about 300 area residents, Christie said more than 600,000 New Jersey residents remain without power Monday after service had been restored to about 250,000. "I think they're doing pretty well, but the reason I'm talking to them is that I don't want them to lose focus," he said. Christie also said he had filed for disaster relief funding with the Obama Administration before the hurricane that has been approved by the president. "The Obama Administration has been fabulous to …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)