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West Windsor, N.J. --- Rep. Rush Holt joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers representing districts damaged by flooding resulting from the severe storms that began on June 26, in calling upon President Bush to provide emergency assistance for affected communities.
Three weeks after the storms, thousands are “struggling to recover from damage to businesses, homes, hospitals, infrastructure, and farmlands,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers expressed appreciation for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA), but notified the President of their concern that “there are a significant number of needs that simply cannot be met by the existing array of services.”
Notably, the existing services do not provide adequate aid for:
(1) Repairs and Improvements to Water Infrastructure;
(2) Assistance to Farmers; and
(3) Aid for Economic Recovery.
The full text of the letter is available through Rep. Holt’s website at www.holt.house.gov.
“President Bush’s approval of additional assistance is important to towns, individuals, and businesses across New Jersey,” said Rep. Holt. “Lambertville and Trenton would benefit from assistance in improving wastewater treatment facilities, farmers in Stockton and homeowners in Kingwood whose land was damaged would receive assistance, Frenchtown would receive help with their public infrastructure, and businesses in Trenton communities like The Island would have federal aid for repairing their shops.”
On July 1, Governor Corzine declared a state of emergency in New Jersey, which grants response powers to the Director of Emergency Management and the Adjutant General. On July 7, President Bush issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration (PDD) for Mercer, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties in New Jersey, as well as counties along the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers in Pennsylvania and New York. The PDD authorizes federal emergency assistance for affected individuals, businesses, and state and local governments.
“Although the flood waters have receded, the damage that they have inflicted upon New Jersey communities is severe,” said Holt. “We need the commitment of the federal government to help individuals and businesses to recover. We also must work together to develop long-term strategies to mitigate the effects of storms and help communities prevent flooding.”
Rep. Holt is also working in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to the risk of flooding in the area and strategies to prevent it. As co-chair of the Delaware River Task Force, Rep. Holt will co-sponsor a public briefing next week on flooding in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The briefing will address the weather that led to the flooding, the role of flood forecasting and flow monitoring, and overviews of the flood damages, response, and recommendations for a flood mitigation process, including consideration of non-structural flood controls.
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