Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement today on the damage caused by remnants of Hurricane Ida:

“The tragic loss of lives, displacement of people from their homes and immense destruction of property caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida have been utterly devastating. I commend our first responders who have courageously put their lives on the line to save those gravely endangered by heavy rains, high winds and rising floodwaters.

“To bring much-needed relief to towns hit hard by Ida, I’m working with my colleagues in the New Jersey delegation in urging President Biden to declare the impacted region a disaster area, which will open the door to federal emergency funds that can help with recovery efforts.

“Route 1 in Mercer County has seen record-breaking flooding, causing significant road closures throughout the area. The Cornell Heights section in my hometown of Hamilton was especially slammed by the storm along the Assunpink Creek, which has a history of flooding during major storm events.

“While I’ve been working with state and local officials as well as the Army Corps to address the creek’s tendency to flood, the recent severe weather demonstrates the urgency for more coordinated efforts at the state, local and federal levels to finally bring relief to the residents of Hamilton and the surrounding community.”

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