Federal dollars flow from legislation he supported
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) applauded this week’s announcement that the federal government is sending $216,000,000 to New Jersey to reimburse the state for vaccination efforts against COVID-19.
“I greatly welcome this important federal reimbursement to assist New Jersey’s six mega sites in the distribution of vaccines,” said Congressman Smith.
FEMA is holding webinars on January 22, 30 and February 4 to inform faith-based, community and non-profit organizations information regarding grants available for security enhancement, Congressman Chris Smith announced.
“I encourage groups to participate in one of the webinars to learn about a FEMA grant program to improve security,” Smith said. “Faith communities and other non-profits have been targets of hate and violence, and this grant is available to address issues of prevention of and preparation for potential threats.
Monmouth County: Sheriff Shaun Golden is reinforcing the message to prepare, plan, stay informed and get involved as National Preparedness Month gets underway. National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is an effort to educate the public on how to prepare for emergencies. This year’s National Preparedness theme is: Prepared Not Scared.
“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with numerous agencies, prepares for emergencies such as natural disasters, active shooters, mass casualties and chemical threats throughout the year by conducting drills, training, tabletops exercises and educational programs,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden whose agency runs the Office of Emergency Management. “These types of training exercises are critical in ensuring that we can effectively and efficiently respond to crises situations. It’s vital the public plays a role as well by preparing, planning and staying informed.”
Congressman Chris Smith today urged all fire departments, career and volunteer, to apply for federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grants that are available from FEMA. The grants are for the recruitment and retention of “front-line” firefighters. The application period is February 15, 2019 through March 22, 2019 at 5 p.m. ET.
“All eligible career and volunteer fire departments in the Fourth District are encouraged to apply for these Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, which help increase the number of firefighters and first responders to provide our communities with more security,” Smith said. “As we have already seen, this grant program has strengthened our district’s local fire departments and volunteer organizations in the past.”
Congressman Chris Smith toured storm damage sites in Wall Township and Howell Township yesterday afternoon to prepare his appeal to the Trump Administration for federal assistance in the recovery, if Governor Phil Murphy asks the President for FEMA’s assistance, as expected.
Smith said his letter to President Trump is already written and that he is prepared to work for federal reimbursement as soon as Governor Murphy makes the request. The knowledge he gained on yesterday’s tour will help him make his case to Trump Administration officials and FEMA when he meets with them to appeal for federal funds.
Governor Phil Murphy issued a press release this afternoon in which he thanked the federal government for disaster aid associated with the March 6 and 7 winter storm that impacted Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties and kept much of the area in the dark with extended power outages.
Murphy did not mentioned President Donald Trump or FEMA administer Brock Long by name in the release. Former Governor Chris Christie regularly mentioned President Obama when thanking Washington for disaster assistance.
It was nice of the governor to mention the Republicans in New Jersey’s congressional delegation while thanking them for help with “the Trump Administration.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. House legislation to help victims of the most recent hurricanes also would help some of those who suffered losses under Hurricane Sandy. The hurricane relief bill, which awaits Senate passage, would limit to three years the time the Federal Emergency Management Agency can demand repayments from disaster victims. Thousands of letters have been… Read the rest of this entry »
LONG BRANCH – As Hurricane Sandy was closing in on the Jersey Shore, Darrell Wordelmann – the general manager of Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant – watched surveillance video footage of the Atlantic Ocean splashing increasingly closer to the popular upscale restaurant until the power to the cameras eventually went out. The restaurant, which is slightly elevated and… Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON — A lawyer for the contractor helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency review Hurricane Sandy damage claims has demanded that a whistleblower and a law firm stop contacting its employees to bolster allegations that storm victims were shortchanged. The letter from Optimal Solutions and Technologies referenced Jeff Coolidge, a whistleblower who worked for a company… Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON — A government watchdog found that Federal Emergency Management Agency did not properly regulate the private companies who provide flood insurance, whose failure to adequate reimburse Hurricane Sandy victims for their losses led to the agency agreeing to reopen thousands of claims. The report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general said FEMA did… Read the rest of this entry »
