For Immediate Release:
September 6, 2011
Federal disaster aid approved
for Monmouth County
Any residence, business that sustained damage is urged to apply
FREEHOLD, NJ – T
he U.S. government has approved New Jersey’s request for disaster assistance for residents in all 21 counties, including those living in Monmouth County, who were impacted by Hurricane Irene. Every New Jersey county has now been approved for both individual and public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Monmouth County residents and small businesses are now eligible to apply for different types of federal assistance, including temporary housing, repair, replacement or other needs such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.
Public assistance eligibility for all 21 counties allows state, eligible local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations to apply for federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene.
Survivors of Hurricane Irene in every New Jersey county who suffered damage should apply for disaster assistance with FEMA, even if they have insurance or aren’t sure they are eligible.
Register by telephone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Specialists are standing by at the toll-free numbers seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Help in other languages is available. Or, you can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov. You can also apply through a Web-enabled mobile device or smart phone by visiting m.fema.gov and following the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”
“Monmouth County was hit hard by Hurricane Irene and the damage to many residences and businesses was extensive,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). “This is also good news for the county itself, which spent thousands of dollars preparing for and responding to damage caused by the storm.”