Assistant Majority Leader Senator John A. Girgenti (D-35) of Hawthorne released the following statement today praising the service of New Jersey’s National Guard throughout Hurricane Irene and its aftermath.
“The National Guard has done a remarkable job over the past weekend during this storm. Furthermore, they have been working continuously before the weekend and are still helping their fellow New Jerseyans get through the flooding and aftereffects of Irene. They have gone above and beyond what would normally be expected of them, and I commend their incredible service,” said Girgenti, the Chairman of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
The National Guard, under the direction of General Reith, has been in constant coordination with the State Police, NGOs, and state and local officials. Two thousand soldiers were on-call for the storm itself and there are currently eight hundred soldiers still on active duty.
Girgenti, who served as a Sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard, stated that “many of the Guard’s resources are now in Northern New Jersey, including vehicles and equipment to help with river basins such as the Passaic River. In the City of Paterson, 3200 residents along the Passaic River were being evacuated yesterday and today and being placed into shelters. There is still a huge amount of flooding and human displacement to be dealt with, and I have every confidence that General Reith and the National Guard will be working non-stop, along with City and County resources and personnel, to help secure our City. That we have selfless people serving New Jersey in the National Guard gives us great hope in the face of adversity, and exemplify a true meaning of public service. Many of these men and women have families and homes of their own that are being affected by this storm; they are making great sacrifices on behalf of the residents. I would like to thank each and every member of the National Guard for their steadfast service and commitment to the citizens of the City of Paterson, the 35th District, and the State of New Jersey.”