FEMA Disaster Assessment Teams will be setting up locations in Jersey City and Bayonne to assist residents still reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in the coming days.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“A lot of our residents’ homes were hit hard by the storm. That’s why we fought to make sure the federal funding was made available to our residents,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
“Jersey City residents are already struggling after a year and a half of financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so we want to help everyone get the financial assistance that is available and that they are entitled to following Ida.”
The city’s Mobile Community Resource Unit (otherwise used as a mobile vaccination site) will be used by FEMA to establish Disaster Recovery Centers to provide direct support to residents registering for FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs.
The Resource Unit will provide a visible, fixed location for area residents to speak with FEMA representatives and report their claims.
At the same time, DSA teams, made up of FEMA representatives, will canvas the surrounding neighborhoods for outreach and assessment.
Meanwhile in the Peninsula City, FEMA set up a location on West 1st Street across from Dennis Collins Park (171 West 1st St.) and will return Sunday at 9 a.m. through 6 p.m.
“We are still awaiting word on the FIXED SITE FEMA team that was requested by Mayor Davis. If and when this gets approved, the FIXED SITE FEMA team will be located at the 4th Street Senior Center on the 2nd Floor,” OEM Coordinator Edoardo “Junior” Ferrante said in an email to city officials.
“This team should be in place for several weeks and offer residents a fixed site to come and speak with FEMA representatives. Having this fixed site will alleviate the need for temporary staging areas outdoors and provide continuity.”
After several days of angst, Hudson County was granted a Major Disaster Declaration from FEMA on Friday.
Anyone that would prefer to fill out their application online can do so here.
The information for the upcoming Jersey City FEMA locations are as follows:
Friday, September 17
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area Sycamore Road (Country Village)
1 p.m. – Staging area Clark Avenue & Mallory Avenue
Monday, September 20
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area St. Paul’s Avenue & Palisade Avenue
1 p.m. – Staging area Bowers Street & Palisade Avenue
Tuesday, September 21
Locations:
9 a.m. – Staging area Division St & Newark Avenue
1 p.m – Staging areas Garfield Avenue & Bayview Avenue
