4231 Customers Still Without Power In Monmouth County

Estimated Customers Out For
MONMOUTH County
As of Sep 2, 2011 11:12 PM

Total Out = 4231

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Friday Afternoon Update From FEMA and NJ OEM

In a conference call with members of the media this afternoon FEMA Coordinating Officer Bill Vogel said that New Jersey and federal employees will be aggressively canvassing the state this weekend to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. 

Depending on the results of the assessments, additional counties can be added to the Presidential declaration of major disaster which would free up federal money for disaster relief.

Vogel emphasised that there is no penalty to counties not included in initial declarations of disaster and that assessments typically result in additions to initial declarations.

There are two kinds of disaster relief. 

Public Assistance is granted to government entities and non- profits for infrastructure repair, including roads, parks and government buildings.  The threshold for Public Assistance is $3.27 per capita per county.  Vogel said that currently there is only money available in this fund for debris removal and emergency repairs until Congress authorizes addition funds. 

This is the fund that House Minority Leader Eric Cantor wants replenished by spending cuts elsewhere in the federal budget.  The Neptune Nudniks, the rest of the liberal media, and Rick Ambrosia can stop their uninformed demagoguery now.

Here’s an idea to save money on the disaster relief without cutting spending elsewhere: repeal “prevailing wage” laws for FEMA funded repairs and let the market determine wages to be paid to workers on the projects.  That would allow more people to be employed and allow more work to be done under the $3.27 per capita per county threshold.

Individual Assistance, as the name implies, is funding for citizens and businesses that have suffered disastrous damage.  This fund is fully funded and needs no additional Congressional authorization.  The Neptune Nudniks can retract their editorial and apologize to Cantor now.

Vogel said that all survivors who have suffered damages should register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3361 or on the web at fema.gov.  FEMA and NJ OEM employees that are canvassing the state this weekend will make their cells phones available to survivors to immediately register.

Residents should contact their own insurance companies immediately. FEMA assistance will only pay for damages that are not covered by insurance.

Major Dennis McNulty of NJ OEM said that Disaster Recovery facilities will be established throughout the state and open for business by Tuesday September 6.  The locations of the Disaster Recovery offices will be posted on fema.gov and ready.nj.gov.

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Cantor vs Christie? Not really

House Minority Leader Eric Cantor has indicated that he wants the government to pay for FEMA disaster relief by cutting spending elsewhere.  Governor Chris Christie said that our people are suffering now and that relief should not be subject to political games.

Cantor and Christie are both right.

Republicans who want to stop the run away spending on Washington that is leading us to economic ruin only control one house of Congress.   They only have leverage over the Senate and the President in the event of an emergency, like when the debt ceiling must be extended or when disaster relief must be provided.

Those in the liberal media, like the Neptune Nudniks, who are critical of Cantor and the Tea Party Republicans in the House have no interest in reforming Washington’s ways.  They are part of the problem.

As a result of the debt ceiling agreement, the Democrats in the Senate and the President have already agreed to trillions in spending cuts to be identified by the end of the year by congressional super commission or huge cuts to the military budget and entitlements will be triggered.

Democrats in the Senate can avoid the “political games” and provide disaster relief by going along with Cantor and identifying cuts sufficient enough to cover the cost of relief now.

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Fiore: “JCP&L’s communication to the public is terrible”

“Government Affairs Representative Roberta Sheridan’s communication is fantastic”

“People think I am making this crap up!” exclaimed Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore in frustration over JCP&L personnel giving the public information that contradicts what he has been told by JCP&L’s government affairs representative Roberta Sheridan.

“Sheridan is doing a great job,” said Fiore, “she told me at 10:30 this morning that there were still 1518 customers in the township without power and that 1264 of them would be restored today and 254 tomorrow. Linemen are telling people they won’t have power anytime soon. On the phone they’re telling people they will have power next week.”

Fiore asked that MMM post Sheridan’s email so that Middletown residents would have accurate information and would not think that he is a sewer truck:

From: rsheridan

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2011 10:31:02 -0400

To: <[email protected]>

Subject: update

we are working all over the township today……….waiting for the areas to be identified……..total of 1,518 customers out in all of the Township, today we are scheduled to bring 1, 264 back in power the remaining 254 tomorrow………..r

Roberta Sheridan
JCP&L

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5093 Still Without Power In Monmouth County

5093 Monmouth County customers are still without power as of noon on Friday.

Joan’s power at the Toll Bros Riviera in Freehold Township came on overnight, but she is not happy.  “JCP&L’s performance and communications were dispicable.  I hope the Governor does something about it,” said Joan.

132 customers are still without power in Highlands.   Meals will be distributed to Highlands residents without power this after noon between 3:30 and 6:30 at the community center on Snug Harbor Ave.  Mayor Frank Nolan will hold a public information meeting at the community center at 7PM.

Estimated Customers Out For
MONMOUTH County
As of Sep 2, 2011 11:56 AM

Total Out = 5093

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Little Positioning Herself To Join Perry Campaign

Anna Little spent Hurricane Irene in Texas singing her own praises to Governor Rick Perry.

Upon her return, Little proceeded to inform supporters that she will be the number 2 person in Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign in the Garden State and that her “ass will be the one to kiss” in the NJ GOP.  Little wouldn’t disclose to her supporters who Perry’s number 1 will be.

Multiple published reports have indicated that Governor Christie has asked NJ Republican donors and operatives not to commit to a presidential candidate.  I guess Little will no longer have front row seats at the Governor’s town hall meetings.

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Keep Your Pants On

Gateway National Recreation Area advises that Gunnison Beach will be closed this weekend due to flooding.  All other Sandy Hook beaches are open, but you must wear a swimsuit.

Yesterday 28 acres of Gunnison were under water.

The structure in the photo is the concession stand, which was knocked over in the storm.

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Monmouth County Left Off Federal Disaster List

Kyrillos and Handlin Appeal For Monmouth County Relief

Governor Chris Christie requested that President Obama declare all of New Jersey eligible for federal disaster relief as a result of Hurricane Irene.  Obama  responded by declaring a “major” disaster in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties.

Individuals affected by Hurricane Irene in those counties are eligible for grants and loans to cover temporary housing, home repairs, and other programs for individuals and businesses.

Governments and non-profits in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties can apply for cost sharing funding to repair or replace facilities damages by Irene.

Federal funding is available for hazard mitigation throughout the state.

FEMA said that damage assessments would continue throughout New Jersey and that other counties could become eligible for federal relief as the surveys are completed.

Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin both dispatched letters to FEMA Administrator Craig  Fugate urging that Monmouth County be added to the list of New Jersey counties eligble for federal funding.

“Last weekend’s storm wreaked havoc on the entire state, including Monmouth County, causing power outages, sever flooding and extensive property damage,” Kyrillos stated. “Public infrastructure such as roads and bridges were closed for days, families and businesses were without power and the extensive damage to trees, buildings and power lines will be a huge cost to the public. We need the same federal assistance that other New Jersey counties are receiving.

Published reports indicated that Monmouth Countysheltered 2,200 people in the Colts Neck, Holmdel and Wall high schools, and provided 4,500 meals. Governor Christie has also called on the President to declare that a major disaster area exists statewide in order to provide federal  financial assistance to governments, residents and businesses.

“I urge in the strongest possible terms that the Administrator of FEMA add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey’s disaster areas,” Kyrillos continued. “This is an accurate designation given what residents, business owners and municipalities endured during this devastating storm.”

“Hurricane Irene’s damage was not limited to five counties in New Jersey,” Handlin, R-Monmouth, said. “Communities in Monmouth County suffered extensive damage to their roads and infrastructure. And, it has been quite costly to area residents and businesses who have gone several days without power.”

County roads also sustained major damage, including a sinkhole on Hubbard Avenue in Middletown that took out a portion of the southbound lane near the Shadow Lake dam.

Governor Christie requested a federal disaster declaration for the entire state on Tuesday and on Wednesday President Obama approved the declaration, and relief, for Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties.

“Governor Christie has shown tremendous leadership throughout this catastrophe and the federal government has been willing to work with New Jersey as we recover,” Handlin said. “Federal officials have indicated they could include more counties in the disaster declaration and I urge them to add Monmouth County because our local communities cannot fix the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene on their own.”

The Federal Government has set up a website that allows people to apply online for assistance: http://www.disasterassistance.gov

This website consolidates the application process across several Federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The website also reduces the number of forms you will ultimately have to fill out, shortens the time it takes to apply and allows you to check the progress of your applications online.

If you want to apply by phone rather than the Internet, you can call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362).

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Hurricane Irene: The Governor wasn’t a prick this time. Well, maybe just a little bit…

By Dan Jacobson, also published in the September 1, 2011 edition of the triCityNews

A couple months ago, the Star-Ledger – the state’s largest newspaper – quoted Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney calling Republican Governor Chris Christie a “prick”.

In a front page story, no less!

Obviously, that means the p-word is now fair game to attach to our state’s Chief Executive. A big event in New Jersey journalism history. Who’s to argue with the Star-Ledger?

So with Hurricane Irene now past, let’s look at the Governor’s handling of the crisis. But that actually starts with Christie’s response to the December 2010 blizzard.

In that case, the Governor was a prick. A complete and total jerk-off. Christie was on vacation in Florida – in Disneyworld, appropriately enough – and he refused to come back until he was good and ready.

Meanwhile, the rest of us were trapped here by a disastrous emergency management response. Roads weren’t cleared for days. The whole system collapsed. Monmouth County couldn’t move. It was downright scary.

Christie’s actions were a disgrace. We called on the Democrats in the state legislature to hold hearings on this prick’s conduct, complete with subpoena power, to determine who did exactly what. Man, we were pissed. Seriously. This was a matter of life and death.

Because an even more severe natural disaster, or – God forbid – a terrorist attack with weapons of mass destruction, would have made that December blizzard look like a beautiful day on the beach in Asbury Park.

Of course, the legislature – even one controlled by the opposition Democrats – did nothing. What a bunch of bozos.

But now it’s time to give the Governor credit: he was excellent during Hurricane Irene. Gone was the prick who wouldn’t cut short his Florida vacation. (Then again, Christie wasn’t on vacation when Irene hit.)

This Publisher was tremendously impressed by the Governor’s command of detail during his Irene press conferences. For the first time I saw that he’s actually a very smart guy. I didn’t know he was at that level. At one point, I even thought to myself that I could never handle the situation that well.

But then I quickly got a hold of myself: Of course I could do it.

Anyway, my capabilities are irrelevant. I’m not Governor. I’m just a wildman local Publisher running for the state Assembly as an Independent. (And in a race that’s almost impossible to win. Only one Independent in the past 50 years has won an Assembly seat in New Jersey.)

But I digress.

The Governor earned his paycheck last week. Thankfully, we never saw how Christie would have reacted if Irene hadn’t weakened – and smashed into New Jersey with twice the force as a Category One hurricane. That would have been something. Still, we got to give the guy credit.  Based on his overall command of the Irene situation, it sure seemed that the Governor could have handled it.

Of course, despite his excellent performance, Christie did find some way to be a bit of a prick. His “get the hell off the beach in Asbury Park” rant during one press conference – about 24 hours before the storm was to hit – was a bit much. Typical theatrics from a guy who gets off a little too much on being a bully. 

Don’t get me wrong. I generally like the Governor’s economic policies. I would have voted with him on his state government reforms. But there’s just something about the guy that bugs me. His petulant instincts not to come home from Florida demonstrates it. Same with some other shit he’s pulled.

But at least with the Hurricane Irene situation it appears the Governor learned some lessons. I hope.

If not, I look forward to going to Trenton as an Independent beholden to no one – and telling the Governor to cut the crap when necessary.

Of course, I’ll do the same to the Democrats who control the state Assembly and Senate. After all, Governor Christie may be a bit of a prick, but those people are downright clowns.

(The 11^th District where I’m running includes: Asbury Park, Long Branch, Red Bank, Ocean Township, Neptune, Neptune City, Interlaken, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, West Long Branch, Eatontown, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Colts Neck, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough.)

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8,037 Still Without Power in Monmouth

JCP&L got the power turned on for 11,277 customers, 30,000-40,000 people since 6:30 this morning.  That’s a far cry from the 8900 per hour Governor Christie said all utilities in the State were doing from Sunday through Wednesday.

Joan’s power is still out at the 55+ Riviera community in Freehold Township.  Yesterday a JCP&L rep told Joan, “You are not a priority.”  Today she was told, “There are only 10 houses out on your grid.  We can’t get to it.”

In Highlands, the Paradise Park trailer park survived the storm but is still without power. On the opposite end of town, the Wyndmoor Condos, 125 units on Portland Rd. are still out.  Trees fell at Wyndmoor breaking two utility poles.  Word around the complex is that JCP&L and Verizon were squabbling over which utility was responsible.  Whoever won that squabble, here we are on Thursday, the poles have been replaced and there is no power.

Paradise Park is surrounded by power.  The adjacent marina and and county park have power.  The residents do not.

Estimated Customers Out For
MONMOUTH County
As of Sep 1, 2011 7:50 PM

Total Out = 8037

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