Chris Christie: Sandy damages top $29 billion
Debris lies on the beach near the Casino Pier that was partially destroyed by superstorm Sandy on November 1, 2012 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. With the death toll continuing to rise and millions of homes and businesses without power, the U.S. east coast is attempting to recover from the effects of floods, fires and power outages brought on by superstorm Sandy.
Superstorm Sandy, which killed 37 people in New Jersey and devastated parts of the East Coast, caused more than $29 billion in damages in the Garden State.
Gov. Chris Christie released the latest $29.4 billion damage estimate in a statement late Friday.
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The figure includes damages to personal property, businesses, transportation, utilities and infrastructure, and could be revised higher in coming weeks, Bloomberg reported.
It also includes money already received from the federal government.
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In his statement, Christie said the estimate came from "the best available data, field observations and geographic mapping," and advice from cabinet officials and a consulting company.
The state's famed Jersey Shore was hardest-hit during the storm.
Two wastewater treatment plants were heavily damaged, as were numerous transit trains. In Hoboken, the PATH train remains out of service, NBC New York reported.
“I stand ready to work with our congressional delegation and the Obama administration to get the funding support New Jersey expects and deserves,” Christie said. “I will spare no effort and waste no time to rebuild and restore our tourism industry, our transportation and utilities infrastructure and the lives of our citizens.”
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