CRANFORD , NJ – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today requested that President Obama immediately support Governor Chris Christie’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Irene.

Text of Lance’s letter to President Obama follows:

August 30, 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC   20500

Dear Mr. President:

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has made a formal request for a Major Federal Disaster Declaration for the counties of Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union in the Seventh Congressional District as a result of Hurricane Irene. I strongly urge you to expedite Governor Christie’s request for federal assistance.

Having toured devastated communities throughout the congressional district I serve, I can personally attest to the devastation to infrastructure, residences and businesses.

Municipalities such as Bound Brook, Cranford, Manville and Springfield are flooded underwater, roads are destroyed, residences are uninhabitable and families are in shelters. The severity of the damage requires immediate federal, state and local response to help these communities recover and rebuild.

Mr. President, I respectfully request a swift approval of Governor Christie’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey.

Thank you for all that you have done so far in mitigating the devastation associated with Hurricane Irene. 

Sincerely,

Leonard Lance
Member of Congress