IMPORTANT

Federal Aid Programs For New Jersey Disaster Recovery (Gloucester City)

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush’s major disaster declaration,relative to the severe storms and flooding that occurred during April 14-20 2007, for New Jersey which includes Camden County (Gloucester City).

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $1.5 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $1.5 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $1.5 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.

• Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
• Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

 Gloucester City Emergency Management

The Emergency Management office is responsible for preparing the City for disasters and the prevention of such.

Emergency Operations Plan

Gloucester City has an approved Emergency Operations Plan.  This plan is reviewed annually by County and State agencies.  Every three years a prolonged and extensive review is performed by the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management.  It is an all hazards approach to planning based on an extensive yearly hazard and vulnerability assessment. 

Flooding
Relative to flooding Gloucester City is a penisula, surrounded by water on three sides.  Our soil composition allows for rapid perculation of water through the predominately sandy soil.  The worst case scenerio for flooding would be saturated ground with a high volume storm occuring during a Northeastern Storm at a lunar tide.  The worst case scenerio in recent history was tropical storm Floyd.  This storm caused isolated damage to approximately 12 homes.  No reported injuries.  

Although flooding is the number cause of weather related deaths and damage they come with at least several days to several hours of  forewarning.  Gloucester City is proactive regarding planning as the majority of our creeks share common ground with wetlands, ballfields and parks.  Our environmental utilities and public works group do an excellent job maintaining our storm sewers.  The riverfront, having been developed by industrial concerns for over one hundred years, has an elevated sea wall during the City's entire boundary.  The sandy soils allow the water to perculate/drain rather rapidly.  The clay/rocky soils contributed to the recent severe flooding seen in other areas of the region.  

Generally speaking after one tide cycle our "floods" tend to be over.  Both ends of Broadway, due primarily to their elevations generally flood.  Other than that we tend to get soggy parks, playgrounds and ballfields as oppossed to loss of life and property as that is what borders our waterways.  This does not mean that we do not have homes affected by flooding from time to time but that is generally the exception, not the rule.  The aforementioned sites will provide guidance as to what our citizen can do to limit their exposure.  

In case all else fails Gloucester City has a technical rescue and Citizen Emergency Response Team to assist our residents in time of need.  

Please visit www.ready.gov and www.fema.gov for family emergency planning information.  Thank you for your question and please feel free to contact us again.


Citizen's Planning Guide
Click Here to download     


Pandemic Flu Information   
Click Here to download     
For more information, go to:  http://www.state.nj.us/health/flu/pandemic.shtml


National Weather Service

Here's the link for the National Weather Service/Philadelphia.
www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/

Useful Links

www.njhomelandsecurity.gov
www.state.nj.us/njoem
www.state.nj.us/health
www.ready.gov
www.fema.gov