Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) welcomed an announcement made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today that expands its major federal disaster area to include additional counties in New Jersey that suffered severe storm damage from Hurricane Irene.

   Smith noted that residents and local government entities in all four counties of the Fourth Congressional District, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, and Burlington, are now eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA’s individual assistance and public assistance programs.

   "This new announcement activates FEMA's individual and household program which enables people in the disaster area--which includes the entire Fourth Congressional District--to recover flood damage losses to their homes that are not covered by insurance," Smith said. "The program is designed to help homeowners make their homes safe and livable. The announcement also enables local governments to apply for assistance for costs incurred during the storm. This is in addition to the previously announced hazard mitigation grant program that will assist local governments to seek long-term remedies.

   In a letter Thursday to FEMA Region II Director Lynn Canton based in New York, Smith detailed storm damage to counties in his district, which spanned 
the flooded Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean.

   To read the entire letter to FEMA, click here. To read the letter Smith and the New Jersey delegation sent to President Obama, click here.

   For more information on federal assistance visit FEMA's New Jersey page. Information about FEMA assistance is also available by calling 1(800) 621-3362.