Politics & Government

Lance Tours District, Urges Obama to Declare It a Federal Disaster Area

The 7th District congressman joined with Gov. Chris Christie and US Senator Frank Lautenberg to enable district residents get emergency FEMA help.

If you live in Manville, Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) may not feel your pain exactly. But his home in Clinton Twp. has no telephone and no electrical, and because he uses wells, he has no water. 

"I don't have power or water, or any of the amenities. I'm not complaining. My situation is nothing like the people in Manville or Bound Brook. They are truly suffering," Lance said. "So many people in the district are having hardships with no power, flooded basements, and no water."

Lance was from Hurricane Irene in the 7th district, which spans parts of Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Union counties.

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The congressman wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to act on Gov. Chris Christie's request to declare the counties of the 7th district as a federal disaster area.

This would mean that homeowners would be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs that provide relief in cases such as the path of destruction wreaked by Hurricane Irene over the weekend.

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Without that federal disaster declaration, homeowners can't apply for federal aid.

Woodbridge is included in the 7th district.

Lance was in Cranford today with U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, surveying the damage and listening to the tales of residents who survived Irene's wrath.

"This wasn't a 100-year storm. It was more like a 500-year storm in places like Manville, Bound Brook, and Cranford," Lance said. He joined the governor in Bound Brook and Manville, towns which experienced historic flooding. 

The congressman was on the road again; this time, to Springfield.

"They don't have power, either" Lance said.

"I'm aware many municipalities have been greatly harmed, including Woodbridge. I'm sure the president will declare the district a disaster area," Lance said.

The congressman stressed his outreach to the flood-ravaged district was purely non-partisan. "Sen. Lautenberg and I are working together. This has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with joining together to help people who are the victims of a natural disaster," he said.

Congress has already passed FEMA's new fiscal year appropriation to fund disasters like Hurricane Irene. Lance said it's now in the hands of the U.S. Senate, a bill he's certain they'll act on immediately when they reconvene in Washington next week.

The power is out in Lance's Westfield district office. Anyone who needs his help is urged to call his Flemington district office at 908-788-6900.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here