Flood Victims Urged to Report Damage

Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien yesterday encouraged any residents who experienced property damage from the March 12-13 rain storm to report that damage to their local emergency management officials or the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management at 609-518-7200.

Any damage caused by flooded waterways, rising ground water or high winds can be reported to officials by leaving name, address, phone number and description of damage, and a cost estimate if available. The deadline to file a report is Monday.

“We have received scattered reports of property damage from that storm from around the county,’’ Freeholder O’Brien said. “It is our belief that, if one resident on a particular street or in a specific area sustained property damage, it is likely that neighbors experienced similar damage but just haven’t reported it. We encourage them to do so.’’

Burlington County OEM will process and forward the reports and appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for partial reimbursement for those damages.

That winter storm began on Friday, March 12 and, when precipitation ended more than 48 hours later, up to seven inches of rain had fallen in parts of Burlington County, causing widespread flooding, particularly along the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek.

Additionally, damaging winds between 50-60 mph with gusts up to 70 mph blew down trees and utility lines that resulted in nearly 460,000 PSE&G customers losing service.

Problems continued into the following week as creeks and rivers began to crest to record levels.

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Author: Press Release--Burlington County