Hurricane Sandy

FEMA: Sandy Will Bring Up to 8 Inches of Rain

Heavy wind and large amounts of rainfall will wreak havoc all along the east coast early next week, FEMA officials said.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Extra damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between five and eight inches of rain to the affected area, said NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

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Sandy Will Be a 'Long-Duration Event,' NOAA Official Says

Hurricane will bring a variety of hazards and up to 8 inches of rain as it wreaks havoc throughout East Coast, according to federal officials.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additional damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between 5 and 8 inches of rain to the affected area, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini said. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

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Cranford Awarded $4.2 Million In Post-Irene FEMA Aid

The township will be able to complete nearly 30 projects with the help of federal funding.

The Christie Administration has announced that Cranford has been approved for nearly $4.1 million in FEMA Public Assistance Program funding, as a result of infrastructure and public property damage incurred from Hurricane Irene. “We continue to work with our federal partners to insure full recovery in New Jersey communities impacted by Hurricane Irene,” Gov. Chris Christie said in a press release. “Having the appropriate mechanisms in place to successfully secure these disaster grants allows us to more efficiently assist municipalities and ease the burden of recovery costs on local taxpayers.” Cranford is set to receive over $1.5 million for nearly 30 projects. The township is being reimbursed for the costs of debris clearance, emergency …

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Lance, Army Corps Meet To Discuss Flooding In Cranford

The federal government will provide $225,000 to fund a flood control feasibility study.

This week, Congressman Leonard Lance, NJ-7, met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials to discuss flood control measures for the town of Cranford. Following the meeting the Seventh District lawmaker announced that the federal agency has agreed to provide $225,000 in 2012 to continue funding a flood control feasibility study.  Cranford is also slated to receive $3.1 million from the federal government to help elevate flood-prone homes that were damaged during Hurricane Irene. “I personally witnessed the devastation to Cranford in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene,” said Lance. “Homes were ruined, families were displaced and municipal operations were relocated. Many residents are still feeling the impact of Irene's wrath. It is …

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Officials Discuss Future Of Municipal Building

Plans for renovation range from restoring the lower level to building a new floor.

The trailers behind the Cranford Municipal Building serve as a constant reminder of the damage that Hurricane Irene left in its wake. But township officials are devising plans to make sure the trailers don't become permanent office space for the displaced employess whose offices were destroyed by the flood. During a special Township Committee meeting on Dec. 5, members of the Municipal Building Task Force presented officials with three options for the remediation of the municipal building as a result of the flooding, which damaged the entire lower level of the 50-year-old structure on Springfield Avenue. "Well, it's not all bad news," Task Force Chairman Paul LaCorte said during the meeting. LaCorte and the Task Force met several times …

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Mayor's Council Will Meet Next Week To Discuss Flood Control

First meeting will focus on towns working together for flood mitigation up and down the river.

Millburn Mayor Sandra Haimoff will host the first meeting of the Mayors’ Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control on Nov. 28 at Millburn town hall. The council grew out of the regional flood control conference that was held last month at Union College in Cranford. The main objective of the new mayors’ council is to work together toward mitigation of flooding in towns along the Rahway River, which was made worse by Irene and highlighted by damages sustained in those towns. The agenda will include hammering out a statement of objectives and organization structure, assessments of damage caused by Irene in communities along the river as well as proposals for storage and flood control structures and state legislation and reimbursement …

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Deadline For FEMA Assistance Extended for Irene Damage

Victims of the flooding from Hurricane Irene will now have until Nov. 30 to apply for federal assistance.

At the request of the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending the registration deadline for renters, homeowners and business owners who suffered damage from Hurricane Irene. Those affected by the storm and flooding now have until Nov. 30 to register for disaster assistance. The Cranford Community Center on Walnut Avenue had been serving as a FEMA Disaster Relief Center where those who suffered losses from Hurricane Irene and were looking to talk to someone face-to-face about financial assistance were able to get the help they need. “We've extended the registration deadline for people who–for whatever reason–have not had the opportunity to register for assistance,” said William L. Vogel, FEMA's federal …

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Cranford Talks Flooding, Birchwood Ave. Concerns

Flooding and overpopulation were key concerns at Thursday's meeting.

What began as a meeting intended to address concerns over the Birchwood Avenue development, turned into an evaluation of flooding issues after Hurricane Irene and Cranford's post-storm cleanup effort. Eric Mason, police chief and acting township administrator, said the township has been at work six days a week cleaning up what Irene left behind. “This has been a challenge, to say the least,” he said, estimating that about 70,000 tons of debris will be removed as a result of this storm. The town will be contracting private sectors to help in the clean-up and 75 percent of the costs will be covered by FEMA, according to town officials. Despite preparing for the storm, town officials said the hurricane and flood were of massive proportions. …

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County Officials: Be 'Calm and Patient' For FEMA Process

Residents seeking disaster-relief money are told to prepare for long process as FEMA waits for all damage assessments to be completed.

Union County officials are urging residents dealing with damages from Hurricane Irene to be patient as they apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration. "We are in the assessment stage," said Union County spokesman Jim Pellettiere. "People are trying to put the cart before the horse. No funding will be made available until preliminary damage assessments are done." In order for a state, county, township or resident to receive FEMA funding, a Federal Disaster Declaration must be issued by the federal agency. Such a declaration can only be made after the governor submits an official disaster request to FEMA that includes the estimated cost of damages sustained by the storm. Providing an accurate statewide report to …

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VIDEO: Gov. Promises 'Gentle Pressure' on Utility Companies

Christie said progress has been made to restore power, but doesn't want companies to 'lose focus.'

Gov. Chris Christie said he would keep "my type of gentle pressure" on the heads of New Jersey utility companies until electricity has been restored to all residents. Speaking in Manville, after touring the flood-ravaged borough and a Red Cross emergency shelter housing about 300 area residents, Christie said more than 600,000 New Jersey residents remain without power Monday after service had been restored to about 250,000. "I think they're doing pretty well, but the reason I'm talking to them is that I don't want them to lose focus," he said. Christie also said he had filed for disaster relief funding with the Obama Administration before the hurricane that has been approved by the president. "The Obama Administration has been fabulous to …

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