Christie requests Major Disaster Declaration
Page 4 • Wednesday, July 15, 2015 • The Hammonton Gazette
TOWN, from Page 1
local governments, and disaster relief organizations. I am specifically requesting Public
Assistance for the counties of Atlantic,
Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester. I am
also requesting Hazard Mitigation Assistance,” Christie said on July 13.
The request follows joint preliminary
damage assessments (PDAs) in the affected
counties that were conducted by state and
local emergency management officials in
collaboration with FEMA. In order to be eligible for federal assistance, damage thresholds must be met at both the state and county
level. The four counties noted above met the
FEMA threshold as did the state. Christie requested Public Assistance Grant funding for
state, county and local government agencies
as well as disaster relief organizations. If approved by the federal government, these
funds will be made available to reimburse
the agencies for emergency work and protective measures, debris clearance and the repair of damaged roads and other public
infrastructure.
The disaster relief was noted at a special
meeting of the Hammonton Town Council
held on July 13. During the special meeting,
council approved a resolution declaring a
state of emergency for Hammonton from
June 23 at 7:30 p.m. through June 24 at 4
p.m. due to an electrical storm that had “limited to loss of power” for 75 percent of the
town.
Hammonton First Councilman Thomas
Gribbin commented on Christie’s request for
a Major Disaster Declaration during
the meeting.
“As everybody’s been working
very hard since the storm hit on