Albio Sires: “Hurricane Sandy was an unprecedented storm that left a devastating impact on the New Jersey and New York region…”

“Hurricane Sandy was an unprecedented storm that left a devastating impact on the New Jersey and New York region-- damaging homes, businesses and leaving millions without power. My district was hit particularly hard. Numerous substations in our area were submerged under water, leaving many residents without electricity for nearly 2 weeks. As a result, thousands of linemen have worked around the clock to assist those in need and to help restore power. Not only have those in the New Jersey and New York region joined together to help those impacted by Sandy, but hundreds of individuals from across the country have come to lend a hand to the people of New Jersey. Just the other day, as I was touring the damaged areas of my district, I saw license plates that ranged from Wisconsin to Louisiana. Whether they have come from around the block or from hundreds of miles away in order to assist our region in its recovery, I want to thank all the workers and volunteers. While the road ahead to a full recovery will be long, there is no doubt that the progress we have made over the past 2 weeks could not have been possible without the assistance of all of those people who came from around the country. I thank all of those people who came to assist the people of New Jersey. ____________________”