Congresswoman Watson Coleman Tours Damage from Hurricane Ida with President Biden

Manville, NJ (September 7, 2021) – Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) welcomed President Joseph R. Biden to New Jersey’s Twelfth District for a briefing on the damage caused by Hurricane Ida and a discussion of the needs of New Jersey in relation to rebuilding efforts. The Congresswoman and President then met with residents who had been affected by unprecedented flooding.

Following the event which was also attended by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-7) and Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Congresswoman Watson Coleman made the following statement:

I want to first thank President Biden for coming to Manville to witness first-hand the devastation Hurricane Ida wrought on Central Jersey. I also want to thank the President for declaring this a major disaster -unlocking necessary funds and resources that our community so desperately needs right now.  I look forward to the continued work of FEMA through my district and the State to address the widespread need.

This past year New Jersey has witnessed one extreme weather event after another.  In Ida’s case, many of the homes and businesses that flooded are in areas that have never experienced flooding before, and those areas prone to flooded experience historic highs. In a typical year, New Jersey will see 1 or 2 tornados warnings, but the year alone we’ve had 11 and counting. Anyone who would tell you that measures to fight climate change are too expensive… I’d invite them to make estimates on the damage to towns in my district.  The cost of NOT taking action is far higher and is paid for in lives, in homes, in rescue and recovery efforts.

As the state’s House member on the Appropriations Committee I want to make clear to residents that my office is committed to ensuring our communities are made whole again. Rebuilding will take the entire community and all levels of government from the Federal Govt, FEMA, the Army Corp of Engineers as well as our state and local partners.  Throughout this horrific storm, the one bright light has been the everyday citizens helping their neighbors.

We saw after Hurricane Sandy how New Jersey came together to lift up communities most effected.

We’ll do it again.