NEW YORK — President Obama on Wednesday declared a
major disaster area in New York state because of Hurricane Irene, while
residents of neighboring New Jersey faced fresh flooding as rivers were
pushed to their limits by runoff from northern regions.
The
president’s declaration means federal aid to help recovery efforts in
the hardest-hit areas will be expedited. Four days after Irene made
landfall in North Carolina, four towns or villages in New York are still
under water and 4,800 people remain in shelters. Six people died in the
state.
According to the Associated Press, a total
of at least 44 people have died in 13 states as a result of Irene,
which was downgraded to a tropical storm as it hit New York City on
Sunday morning.
In New Jersey, the death toll rose
overnight to seven after officials found the body of a man who
apparently had been sucked down a utility hole while clearing debris
from a drainage basin, according to the Star-Ledger.
On
Tuesday evening, thousands of people were under mandatory evacuation
orders in cities along the Passaic River, which crested overnight and
poured water into Paterson, Little Falls, Lincoln Park and other towns.
“I saw just extraordinary despair,” Gov. Chris Christie said at a news
briefing after visiting some affected areas.
Flood
water reached the reception desk at a Ramada Inn in Wayne, N.J.,
prompting police to order the hotel’s guests — many of whom had heeded
orders to leave their homes — to evacuate the hotel. Some refused.
“Where am I supposed to go? There’s nowhere,” Mimoza Dhurim, whose home
was flooded, told the Star-Ledger. The guests were allowed to stay.
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