UPDATE: Gov. Christie Says State May Seek Federal Disaster Assistance

Gov. Chris Christie said flooding in parts of Cape May County following the weekend blizzard is “just a mirage,” and those comments have some in South Jersey up in arms, according to nj.com.

He made his comment in response to a reporter’s question about why he returned to New Hampshire so quickly following the first major storm of 2016, according to the report.

Later in the day, Christie referred to the blizzard as one of New Jersey’s “largest snowstorms in the last six years.”

“ I commend the Department of Transportation for clearing our roads so quickly and effectively,” he said in a prepared statement. “I also commend NJ Transit for helping so many commuters to get to work today without incident.”

He said assessment teams he sent to Cape May, Atlantic and Ocean counties report the flood waters have, in the main, receded and that only 500 power outages remain from a high during the storm of approximately 100,000.

Those teams included Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin, who were touring flood damaged areas in South Jersey. Stops in Cape May County were scheduled to include Stone Harbor and North Wildwood.

“I have also sent the leaders of the Economic Development Authority to work with any businesses which sustained any damage,” said Christie, who was campaigning for the Republican nomination for president in New Hampshire ahead of next month’s primary.

He initially said he wouldn’t return to New Jersey during early storm forecasts, but reversed course on Friday when he declared a State of Emergency.

On Monday, he said preliminary assessments were being conducted to determine if New Jersey qualified for federal disaster relief assistance.

“No declaration of disaster can be made until we determine whether we have reached that damage threshold,” Christie said. “That process will take days to complete.”

Earlier, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) called on Christie to declare a disaster in Cape May and Cumberland counties, according to politicker.com.

RELATED: WATCH: Drone Captures Shore Flood Damage

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello has said “There’s a lot more damage from this storm than there was from Sandy,” in his town, according to nj.com.

On Monday night, Rosenello said too much attention has been paid to the discussion about whether or not this storm was as bad as Superstorm Sandy.

“While locally we did experience tide levels that exceeded the levels reached during Sandy, it is unfair and insensitive to compare the damage we received as a result of this storm with the devastation that impacted our neighbors to the North during Sandy,” Rosenello said in a prepared statement. “Throughout this event, I was personally in contact with representatives of the Governor’s Office and the State Department of Environmental Projection (NJDEP). The town did suffer significant beach erosion, and the State has offered any assistance we need to deal with the issues we have following flooding like this. I want to thank the Governor’s Office, the Acting Governor and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin for their support and assistance during this event.”

Ocean City saw flooding over the weekend, particularly following a high tide that saw a crest of 8.04 feet mean low water on Saturday morning, which was on par with the Nor’easter that hit the city in November of 2009, but not as high as what was experienced during Superstorm Sandy. That water has since receded.

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