Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in visiting homes along the Assunpink Creek in Mercer County that were flooded out by Hurricane Irene, which struck the Garden State Aug. 27-28.
Smith went through the neighborhood with Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo, and Councilman Dennis Pone, who lives in the area and whose home has been made uninhabitable by the flood waters. Smith’s office has been working with municipal, county and state officials both before and after the storm struck, as well as federal agencies such as FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). A day earlier he was at flooding-related meetings in Freehold Borough, Spring Lake and Howell in Monmouth County with FEMA, USACE or other officials.
Smith asked FEMA teams who are experienced in community relations after disasters to reach out with flood impacted residents. The teams went door-to-door offering advice to residents or leaving information if no one was at home. They fanned out across the Cornell Heights and Whitehead Manor sections of Hamilton Township Wednesday.
“FEMA is here today to extend a hand and they will continue to have a local presence to assist residents,” Smith said. “It is the worst flooding I have ever seen and there is enormous damage. The damage is overwhelming. In some cases the outside of the homes look fine, but the inside is destroyed. Much of the property on the lower living levels has been destroyed. There are many who have not yet been able to return home.”
Tons of destroyed property—furniture, bedding, drywall, and countless debris and ruined household items have been hauled off, yet more lined the streets even 10 days after the flood and after a number of full dumpsters have been carted off. “Bridge out” signs were still posted noting the Carnegie Avenue crossing of the creek was impassable. Repair workers and heavy equipment were busy throughout the area.
Any constituent with questions or looking for assistance can call the Congressman’s Monmouth County/Ocean County Constituent Service Center at (732) 350-2300, or the Mercer/Burlington County Constituent Service Center at (609) 585-7878.
###
