Federal Disaster Designation Could Bring Some Storm Funding

Millburn and Essex County could be getting some money to help with snow clean-up costs from the December blizzard, thanks to U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez.

Essex was among 13 New Jersey counties named in a federal declaration. Some received more than 2 1/2 feet of snow from a massive snowstorm that blanketed the state on Dec. 26.

 The two senators applauded President Barack Obama for approving a federal disaster designation that will free up federal dollars to help New Jersey. The money will help with clean-up costs by reimbursing state and local emergency management agencies that worked on the storm.

“I work hard in Washington to make sure emergency funding is available to our communities when disaster strikes and I am pleased that this funding will help Essex County recover from this year’s storms,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg. 

 Millburn officials filed with the state Office of Emergency Management for the federal reimbursement if it became available. They had in reimbursement from the storm.

Lt. Peter Eakley, township deputy emergency management director, said Wednesday township officials are monitoring the situation and will be meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency and state Office of Emergency Management officials in the coming weeks. It's during those meetings they'll find out what costs are eligible and how much the township could receive in reimbursements.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said the county has already spent $2.8 million of the $3.6 budgeted for snow clean up this winter.

“Our federal delegation represents Essex well. We have had a terrible winter and this reimbursement will be helpful,” he said.

The declaration covers 13 counties: Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union.  Additional designations may be made at a later date. 

The exact amount of the federal funds that will be made available to Essex County is not yet known.

The Senators had urged the president to approve the declaration request in a Dec. 31 letter.