FEMA adds walk-up sites in Essex and Morris counties for Ida damage – NorthJersey.com

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to issue disaster declarations for New Jersey counties pummeled by remnants of Hurricane Ida, the agency has opened walk-up sites across the state for residents or business owners affected by the storm.

Disaster Recovery Centers opened in Essex and Morris counties Monday. They join centers previously opened by the agency, including ones in Bergen and Passaic counties.

Staff from FEMA and the state Office of Emergency Management will be on hand at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and provide literature explaining how to make home repairs or better protect your home from weather-related damage.

Sites are open at the following locations at these times:

Essex County

Kmart, 235 Prospect Ave. #9413 in West Orange

  • Opened Monday, Sept. 20
  • 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday ET;  8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday

Morris County

Morris Plains Community Center, 51 Jim Fear Drive in Morris Plains

  • Opened Monday, Sept. 20
  • 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Monday through Thursday

Bergen County

Ciarco Learning Center, 355 Main St. in Hackensack

  • Opened Tuesday, Sept. 14
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday

Mercer County

Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive in Trenton

  • Opened Tuesday, Sept. 14
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

Hunterdon County

Union Fire Company 1, 230 N. Main St. in Lambertville

  • Opens Wednesday, Sept. 15
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

Middlesex County

Middlesex Fire Academy, 1001 Fire Academy Drive, Cafeteria B, in Sayreville

  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

Passaic County

Civic Center, 19 Warren St. in Little Falls

  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

Gloucester County

Mullica Hill Library, 389 Wolfert Station Road in Mullica Hill

  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
  • 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday

Residents and business owners can also apply for federal aid by visiting disasterassistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Applicants may also reach the agency by calling 800-621-3362, or 800-462-7585 if hearing- or speech-impaired. Agents are available to take calls from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 17, FEMA announced that non-citizens and “qualified aliens” can apply for assistance, as well.

According to FEMA, this includes people who are:

  • Individuals who are lawful permanent residents (also known as green card holders.)
  • Anyone in the country under asylum, refugees, or aliens whose deportation status is being withheld. 
  • Non-citizens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year.
  • Non-citizens granted conditional entry.
  • Cuban/Haitian entrants.
  • Certain individuals subjected to extreme cruelty or victims of a severe form of human trafficking, including persons with a “T” or “U” visa.

Workers will not gather information about a parent or guardian who does not qualify for any of the above, but applies on behalf of a child who is a qualifying citizen or non-citizen.

FEMA urged affected residents with homeowners or renters insurance to file a claim immediately, as the agency cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance.

Residents who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for federal assistance, FEMA said.

When contacting the agency, please keep the following information at hand:

  • A current phone number where you can be contacted.
  • Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
  • Your Social Security number, if available.
  • A general list of damage and losses.
  • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

Photograph all damage before cleaning your home or making repairs, to keep documentation for your claim, FEMA said.

Nicholas Katzban is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Email: katzban@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @nicholaskatzban