Hunterdon Freeholders Reach Out To FEMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: March 24, 2020

Contact: Shaun C. Van Doren, Freeholder Director

Shaun.vandoren@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Hunterdon Freeholders Ask U.S. Reps

To Push FEMA For 5000 Test Kits and Equipment

Hunterdon County’s Freeholder Board has reached out Sunday to New Jersey’s U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker and Congressman Tom Malinowski, asking to push forward the County’s request to FEMA for 5000 COVID-19 test kits and medical protective equipment for Hunterdon’s medical providers.

In a letter to the U.S. representatives, Freeholder Board Director Shaun C. Van Doren noted that “Working together is the only way we will fight our way through the public health emergency that is consuming us all. Congressman Malinowski commented in the media that he would like to see a COVID-19 testing site here in Hunterdon County, similar to the ones happening around the state. I could not agree more.”

Van Doren last week directed the County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to request 5000 COVID-19 test kits from the state emergency office. “However, if the state cannot fulfill the request, I am advised it should be forwarded by the state to FEMA,” he said.

The Freeholder Board Director’s letter to the Congressman and Senators stated, “we request your support for our efforts to gain from FEMA mass testing resources, 5000 test kits, and the personal protection equipment needed for individuals who administer the tests, in order to effectuate more widespread testing in Hunterdon County. Without these additional resources, mass testing cannot take place.”

Van Doren noted in the letter, “The County’s Health Department and OEM has already provided more than 70,100 protective items to Hunterdon County first responders, Hunterdon Healthcare, nursing homes, care centers, and medical providers since February. The County’s stockpile is running low and there is difficulty in trying to purchase these supplies locally.

Our local medical center, Hunterdon Healthcare, is doing all it can, but test kits remain limited. Some area businesses are donating needed supplies, however, more needs to be done. These resources are vital in order to provide the larger scale testing that is needed by our residents.”

“The Freeholder Board believes that having our federal representatives advocating on behalf of Hunterdon County’s FEMA request is the most effective way to bring attention to the needs of our residents,” Van Doren concluded.