Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Oklahoma urges out-of-state residents not to mail or truck in supplies, but would appreciate charitable contributions
Oklahoma and FEMA officials are asking those who want to help tornado victims to make charitable contributions, but not to mail or truck in any supplies. Even as Oklahoma officials are emphasizing how much they appreciate that folks from out-of-state want to roll truckloads of supplies into the tornado-ravaged area of the state, they have to politely decline because it would divert attention from handling the ongoing crisis and possibly create a mountain of items no one will want. "Please don't send used clothes or supplies and, no, we can't have trucks coming in," said Ann Dee Lee, a volunteer helping the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management's public relations department field media calls. On Tuesday, plans were brewing among Jersey …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Eligible farmers now have eight months to apply for emergency loan assistance.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, February 18
Fourteen counties in New Jersey, including Mercer County, have been granted a National Disaster Designation following five months of extreme weather, Governor Chris Christie announced on Friday. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack granted the relief in light of Superstorm Sandy, a snowstorm, Nor'easter, drough, high winds, hail, excessive heat and rain and flash flooding between June 28 and November 8, 2012. The declaration also includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Sussex and Warren Counties. The aid is designed to offer relief to farmers who lost crops or suffered structural damages to their farms through the severe weather. “Superstorm Sandy not only …
Friday, January 4, 2013
The U.S. House of Representatives approved funding for the National Flood Insurance Program.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure late Friday afternoon allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to borrow $9.7 billion to pay insurance claims made by victims of Hurricane Sandy. The bill, HR 41, temporarily increases the borrowing authority of FEMA to allow the agency to carry out payment claims made by property owners to the National Flood Insurance Program. Congress moved to approve the funding stop-gap Friday after concerns were raised that aid for Sandy victims had been delayed too long. The House, specifically, Majority Speaker John Boehner, R-OH, came under fire for tabling a Sandy aid package until after the New Year. Congress is expected to vote on two additional bills authorizing more than…
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Mayor says he's just waiting for state approval
Brick hopes to allow its barrier island residents and property owners to be able to drive to their properties in their own vehicles "soon," but the township needs state approval first. "We hope it will be soon, we hope it's within days," said Mayor Stephen Acropolis, on a bus tour Thursday of many of the township's Sandy-ravaged waterfront and low-lying sections. "We're just waiting for some construction work to be cleared, for Route 35 to be opened and for approval from the state Department of Transportation." On Thursday morning, Acropolis, Police Chief Nils Bergquist, other police officers and the National Guard traveled by police-escorted bus with a limited number of media to tour the township's barrier island and other damaged …
Monday, November 12, 2012
Residents can ask questions or sign up for assistance seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, November 12, 2012
Mercer County will set up an in-person registration site where residents can meet with FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives to apply for funding or to get answers to questions. A center is now open at Mercer County Community College's Fine Arts building. The site will operate seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., until FEMA determines it has reached those who seek potential reimbursement, usually 4 to 6 weeks. No appointment is necessary. Mercer County residents can apply for different types of assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration disaster loans. Homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered damage must bring with them…
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Conference call with state, federal officials on Thursday
Small business owners who were impacted by Sandy need to be on a conference call at 2 p.m. Thursday with state and federal officials, says the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Business Action Center senior officials will be on the conference call on the federal and state government's efforts to help small businesses and homeowners recover from Hurricane Sandy. "Officials will provide updates and answer questions about assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to provide all available …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The borough anticipates more funds to come.
Hightstown received nearly $190,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the largest payout the borough has received for Hurricane Irene expense reimbursement from the agency. The borough is still determining what the reimbursement exactly applies to and expects additional funds from the agency, said Borough Administrator Michael Theokas. Earlier this year the borough received nearly $50,000 from FEMA, primarily for immediate remediation and removal of branches and trees following the storm, Theokas said. Unlike the insurance company, which reimburses Hightstown dollar for dollar, FEMA only pays 75 percent. Following the storm, the council passed $1.6 million in emergency appropriations and used about $1.3 million of the total. …
Friday, April 6, 2012
The grant totals more than $1.5 million across the region.
Mercer County emergency service departments and Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company is receiving $1.5 million through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a communication technology upgrade. The upgrades include new GPS systems and mobile communications technology that will allow departments to work in real time with nearby agencies, the release said. “This federal grant will help local police officers, firefighters, and other first responders work together in emergency situations to keep Mercer County families safe and secure,” Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said in a news release. The regional money, totaling $1,570,569, will be used across 27 departments to increase communication and …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Council members praise the conversation started at Tuesday's special meeting.
The conversation on the future of Hightstown's Borough Hall and the police department kicked off Tuesday night at a special public workshop meeting. Although no action was taken and no decision was made as to the future of the contaminated building, it opened discussion between council members, town professionals and members of the public. Several options were discussed – from remediating or demolishing all or part of the building, to moving it completely, tearing it down or rebuilding it and bringing it up to code – but there are several lingering factors that may weigh into the council’s ultimate decision. The Borough is still waiting to hear if the County will accept the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps created a few …
Friday, January 20, 2012
$1.3 million has been spent in emergency expenses to date.
Hightstown received the first check from their insurance company reimbursing in full $226,393.41 spent to help get the Borough’s water flowing after Hurricane Irene struck in late August, according to officials Thursday. “That enabled us to get our water plant repaired and back online, and serving clean water to our residents,” said Borough Administrator Michael Theokas. “After so many months of promises of reimbursement, and handwringing, and negotiations and so on, we finally have a tangible result of the hard work that we’ve all put in for this. We really think it’s a sign of what’s to come.” Following the storm, the Borough Council passed two $800,000 emergency appropriations, one in September and one in October. To date, the Borough …
JP Gibbons
8:11 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Borough Council has pledged to hold another public dicussion/working session for public involvement. Please attend it will impact you and your family now and for years to come. more ›