Pictured at the Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, are Anthony Storino (left) and Frank Storino, (right), business owners who discussed damage to their establishments. The three are standing on tons of sand that washed into a patron area, filling to the top of the stairway of a patio.
Congressman Chris Smith toured Monmouth and Ocean Counties on Aug. 28 in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.
The Fourth Congressional District Smith represents includes large areas along the swollen Delaware River from Trenton in Mercer County to Burlington City in Burlington County, as well as coastal areas of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses have lost power, hundreds of homes have been flooded and residents have been forced to abandon their homes. Downed trees and closed roads have made travel extremely difficult. Flooding is particularly severe along the Delaware, Assunpink Creek and Manasquan River.
Two marina workers were killed in Ocean County in Point Pleasant Beach. Smith observed strenuous but tragically unsuccessful rescue efforts to respond to the incident. He spoke to businesses impacted by the tons of sand that washed into their establishments. The Congressman also walked the heavily damaged boardwalk in Spring Lake Borough, and visited other towns in his district.
The Congressman was in touch with municipal, county, state and federal officials before the storm in anticipation of an emergency response, and offered to help in fostering federal emergency assistance.
