Mercer County Approved for Federal Disaster Assistance

Governor Chris Christie announced today that the federal government has approved the state’s  request for disaster assistance for New Jersey residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Irene in all 21 counties.

Individual and public assistance were approved for Burlington, Hudson, Ocean and Union counties, and individual assistance was approved for Mercer County, following the public assistance eligibility granted to Mercer yesterday.

Every New Jersey county has now been approved for both individual and public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

New Jersey residents and small businesses are eligible to apply for various 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 some 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.

Residents and business owners in every New Jersey county who suffered damage should apply for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even if they have insurance or aren’t sure they are eligible.

You can register by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments. Calls are accepted seven days a week, between  7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

You can also register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or apply through a web-enabled mobile device or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov and following the link to “apply online for federal assistance.”

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.