President Approves Disaster Declaration For Late October Snowstorm

A major disaster declaration approved Nov. 30 by President Barack Obama will allow Union County towns affected by the late October snowstorm to secure federal funding for costs associated with emergency work and repairs resulting from the unexpected storm.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to New Jersey and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by the .

The late October storm dumped heavy, wet snow on the state, bringing down trees and power lines and causing widespread that left more than 700,000 homes and businesses without electricity, some for several days.

The freak storm also forced school closures in many towns, and wreaked havoc on roadways, causing numerous accidents throughout the region. Earlier last month, Gov. Chris Christie told the president in a letter that the storm's impact was more damaging to trees and power lines than Hurricane Irene. Residents of many Union County municipalities spent several days removing fallen branches and tree limbs from their property and contacting their insurance companies due to damages to their homes and vehicles as a result of the fallen trees.

"Such a declaration would permit Cranford to get FEMA reimbursement for its costs such as added public safety costs due to the power outages and branch removal," Cranford Mayor Daniel Aschenbach said. "Certainly, it will help the township's operating budget."

The disaster declaration makes federal funding available to local governments as well as certain private, nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm. In addition to Union, the declaration also affects the counties of Cape May, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide, according to FEMA.