Gov. Murphy tours flood-damaged area in NJ as Biden approves federal aid

While Gov. Phil Murphy toured flood-damaged areas of Lambertville on Labor Day, President Biden approved major disaster declarations that greenlit federal aid for people six of the state's counties hit hardest by last week's storms.

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy toured storm-damaged areas of the state on Monday morning as President Biden approved major disaster declarations greenlighting federal aid for people six of the state's counties.

While touring flood-damaged areas of Lambertville on Labor Day, Murphy said Biden's major disaster declaration will allow individuals to receive assistance, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset counties are included in the disaster declaration. An existing emergency declaration issued last week enabled state, county, and local governments to get reimbursed for disaster spending, Murphy said.

Murphy said he would be talking to Biden during his visit about adding other counties to the major disaster declaration.

Biden is scheduled to visit New Jersey and New York City himself on Tuesday to survey storm damage, the White House said. The storm killed at least 27 people in New Jersey and 13 in New York City.

Murphy was later joined by state and local officials on a walking tour of Lambertville, passing homes with belongings piled outside as residents spent their Labor Day clearing flood debris, aided at one point by a bulldozer.

FOX 29's Steve Keeley also surveyed some of the damage in Lambertville early Monday morning, including areas close to the Delaware River canal. Several houses sustained extensive damage, including one home that was carried away by floodwaters and eventually crashed into a nearby bridge.

STORM DAMAGE HEADLINES:

Saturday night. Murphy announced that the death toll in the Garden State had reached 27, and that at least four people remained missing following what he called a "historic" storm. He said he had already sought federal assistance and would continue to ask for more "because we need it."

The remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least 50 people in six Eastern states after it brought historic rain Wednesday that led to deadly flooding and sudden storm waters.

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