State Officials Applying for Federal Funds for Recovery From June 23 Storm: Report

State officials are finalizing an application for federal help to clean up about $20 million worth of infrastructure damage and cleanup costs related to the June 23 storm, CBS 3 reports.

The damage costs meet the threshold for receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to the report.

The application is expected to be finished and sent to the White House by the end of the week, according to the report.

“All that we can say at this point is that our Office of Emergency Management, with the county Offices of Emergency Management, continues to assess and examine the damage estimates this week with representatives of FEMA,” Brian Murray, a representative from Gov. Chris Christie’s Office, told Patch in response to an inquiry about this report.

Camden and Gloucester counties were hit hardest by the storm, and some Atlantic City electric customers were without power for a week following the devastating storm.

In the days following the storm, several local and state officials were critical of Gov. Chris Christie’s response to the storm.

On June 25, Christie said on his NJ101.5 radio show he would apply for federal funds if it was necessary - but he resisted the idea of urging for a disaster declaration, noting that almost all of the power was supposed to be restored by the end of last week.

He said he had been instructed by counsel and by the State Police that “they don’t need one.”

“If they need one, I’ll sign one. I don’t sign these just for the fun of it,” he said. “There has to be a reason to do it.”

Read more at philadelphia.cbslocal.com.