Congressman Chris Smith (Robbinsville, NJ), Dean of the New Jersey Delegation met with the entire New Jersey congressional delegation at the State Capitol to discuss the emergency response to Sandy with Gov. Chris Christie.

    "We talked about the path to recovery for victims and for the shore economy,” Smith said. “It’s a long road and everybody seems to know it, but we are committed to bringing back these communities. There was general consensus that Gov. Christie and his cabinet handled the emergency well. The governor said the first, statewide damage estimates are expected to be tallied as early as Friday or Monday.”  

    Christie said he had reached out to other governors—mainly from the southern Gulf Coast states that respond to hurricanes more frequently—for advice and guidance.

    Smith inquired about Fort Monmouth, where officials have been working to reconnect electric, gas and water utility services to suitable, former Army housing. There are currently 300 people in New Jersey shelters today, the governor said, down from a high of about 7,000.

    “Fort Monmouth could provide temporary housing for 200 to 600 families,” Smith said. “It’s a prudent use of the mothballed housing that’s already there. It could be open shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.”

    Smith, who represents Trenton as well as large Jersey Shore areas in Monmouth and Ocean counties, said the Delegation would work together to bring federal assistance to New Jersey. Smith noted that the Army Corps of Engineers deserves credit for its past projects to protect the shoreline.

    “The beach protection work the Army Corps of Engineers has done over the years has been justified,” Smith said. “Where the Corps built higher berms, they held back the water. Where there were low dunes, the water came in. There has to be a lessons-learned approach here. The Army Corps of Engineers projects proved themselves worthwhile and we need to continue their work and rebuild where feasible. At this point the estimates look to be between $750 million to $1 billion in needed work by the Corps for flood control and beach protection and replenishment.”

    Smith told the group that expectations for FEMA assistance should remain realistic. He noted that although the maximum assistance is $31,900, the average federal assistance after Hurricane Irene in 2011 was $8,000 per applicant.

    Smith also reported to the governor about concerns of homeowner about their private insurance claims. The governor stated he and his cabinet had been in personal contact with insurance company executives in recent days to seek cooperation for the victims, and said the State would be watching to make sure policy holders are treated properly.