Montclair residents can now apply for FEMA funds

By JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS
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Residents and businesses in Essex County can now seek help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damage caused by Ida, the storm that caused flooding and devastation in the area on September 1.

On Friday, Mayor Sean Spiller and City Councilor Peter Yacobellis met with Governor Phil Murphy as well as U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Donald Payne (NJ-10), who confirmed that Essex County had been approved for inclusion in a FEMA. declaration of major disaster.

On Sunday, September 5, President Joe Biden approved such a declaration for six New Jersey counties – Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset – making FEMA funds available to residents and businesses hard hit by Ida’s floodwaters in these areas.

At the time, Spiller said in a media statement that Essex County had left him “shocked and angry”. But he and other officials said they hoped an updated statement would include Essex County.

It happened on Friday, in a decision that also included Hudson, Mercer and Union counties, Murphy said on Twitter.

The day after the governor’s declaration of major disaster was released, FEMA officials were in Essex County to assess the damage, county spokesman Anthony Puglisi said. They also investigated Burlington, Monmouth, Warren and Morris counties, which as of Friday were still awaiting a decision on aid.

“This is something that our colleagues and all of us have been advocating for the past nine days. We are living from crisis to crisis and with our community still reeling from the effects of COVID-19, we desperately needed this victory, ”Yacobellis said in a statement released Friday.

On Friday, Spiller said through “Essex County’s collective advocacy, with County Director Joseph N DiVincenzo Jr. and Governor Phil Murphy, we have succeeded in qualifying Essex County and all those who have been devastated to Montclair to be eligible for FEMA relief funding.

Wednesday September 8, Sherrill tweeted that FEMA had completed an assessment study and submitted a recommendation that Essex County be included in the disaster declaration.

“Essex has been hit hard by severe flooding, countless injuries and four tragic deaths. We desperately need this federal help, which is why Donald M. Payne Jr. and I are advocating so strongly, ”she wrote.

In a statement released Friday, DiVincenzo Jr. described Essex County as “one of the hardest hit areas”. The storm, he said, “with its unprecedented rainfall and flooding, has turned the lives of our families upside down and devastated our local businesses.

“Becoming eligible for disaster relief is good news for those who have recovered what they can, worked to clean up and prepare to rebuild. I appreciate that FEMA sent their team to survey the damage across Essex and see the areas affected by the storm.

Residents of Essex County can now register for relief at assistancecatastrophe.gov. Applicants can register for home repair and temporary housing assistance and apply for low cost loans. Homeowners will need denial of coverage from their insurance company to complete the claims.

“The flood limits have been changed following more intense storms climate change and some bad regional development decisions that compromise or do not concern [themselves] enough with the permeability of the soil, causing more stormwater runoff than ever before, ”said Yacobellis. “These issues need to be looked at both holistically and in the long term so that we design a future where the impacts are not so devastating.”

The day after the storm, Biden also issued a separate declaration of emergency for all New Jersey counties, making assistance available to local governments.

Other help

• New Jersey residents who have lost vehicles and need help accessing essential services can text “NJIDARIDE” to 898-211 to request a free or discounted Lyft or Uber ride.
• The New Jersey Economic Development Authority plans to launch an application for the Business Assistance Grant program at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 17, online at njeda.com/henri-ida-relief.
• For those in need of shelter, the The Red Cross offers a shelter finder on redcross.org – select “Get help” then “Find an open shelter”.
• Montclair city councilor Peter Yacobellis launched a relief fund immediately after the storm that by Friday raised more than $ 40,830. The fund was established to support several awards of $ 500 to residents who earn less than $ 100,000 for debris removal and cleanup services, as well as awards of $ 500 to low-income tenants who do not have rental insurance or whose policies do not cover their losses. On Friday, Yacobellis said he would continue to collect donations to support the launch of a city-wide business directory comprising Ida’s resources and to support nonprofits that have suffered hardships. Ida damage. Links to the fund and requests for support have been posted in the blog section of its campaign site, PeterforMontclair.com.