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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jason Galanes
April 20, 2007 202.225.6572
LoBiondo "Extremely Concerned" with Absence of South Jersey Counties in Acting Governor's Federal Disaster Request
Congressmen LoBiondo and Andrews Urge Codey to Reconsider
MAYS LANDING, N.J. - Congressmen Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Robert Andrews (NJ-01) tonight sent the following letter in response to Acting Governor Codey's failure to request a Federal Disaster Declaration for Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester, Cape May and Atlantic counties in the wake of the flooding and coastal erosion from the recent Nor'easter:
Dear Acting Governor Codey:
We understand you made an initial request today for a Federal Disaster Declaration for areas of the state devastated by the recent Nor'easter. We are extremely concerned that several areas in southern New Jersey were not included in your initial request. We urge you to complete your damage assessment of these areas expeditiously and to amend your initial request to include counties in southern New Jersey that suffered severe flooding and coastal erosion.
We have been in contact with local officials and county emergency management directors in Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester, Cape May and Atlantic counties who have requested emergency assistance to repair damage caused by coastal erosion and river flooding. As you know, in Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester counties heavy rains caused dams to breach, and the Maurice River and its tributaries to flood, damaging county roads and washing out the Rte. 56/Landis Avenue bridge. In addition, several coastal communities in Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic Counties experienced severe erosion and property damage from high winds and storm surge.
We are concerned that without your request for a specific emergency declaration for these counties critically needed federal assistance will not be made available for residents of southern New Jersey suffering in the wake of the storm. We urge you to include these counties in a future request for a Federal Disaster Declaration. We appreciate your attention to this matter.
Note: Attached to this correspondence is Acting Governor's Codey's request for a Federal Disaster Declaration.
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Press Secretary
Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02)
202.225.6572 (office)
202.374.1914 (cell)
202.225.3318 (fax)
2427 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
www.house.gov/lobiondo