Statement from New Jersey Amusement Association

By | November 2, 2012

Dear NJAA Members,

New Jersey has just been through an unprecedented disaster. Superstorm Sandy has brought widespread flooding and property damage that has been devastating for our amusement association. There has been damage but most hard hit is from Atlantic City to Keansburg. Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach have lost most of the boardwalk and a great deal of the piers. Keansburg Amusement Park & Arcades have significant damage as well.

Written By Lary Zucker:

I know this is a difficult time for you and your families. The full extent of our losses is not yet known but Sandy resulted insignificant damage and losses for many of you and for many NJAA members. We have received many offers of aid and support from IAAPA and from our friends outside of New Jersey.

Since NJAA members were affected in different ways, depending on their location, I don’t know what help we need. The first thing we need to do is find out how you are at this time and what your needs may be for housing, supplies, clean up etc. Please contact me if there is anything that I can do or if there is any request, question, need, or message that I can pass on. Fortunately, my firm reopened yesterday and our computers and phones are working. My cell is 856-816-8876 and my home is 856-795-9221.

Kim Samarelli, Ed Mcglynn and I have been in touch with the Governor’s office and I have spoken to Mike Triplett at the DCA. The state is acutely aware of our situation. The DCA will meet with us as soon as we are ready to talk about moving forward. Kim has not been able to return to her home and does not have access to a computer.

Kim has a conference call tomorrow with the Division of Travel and Tourism at 11.00 am.
She will advise, please be patient with our NJAA office as Kim is displaced from her house which is our office and has limited cell service.

It is important that each one of our members who have sustained any damage do

Four immediate things to do:

  1. Call your flood insurance carrier
  2. Call your insurance companies
  3. Most Importantly contact FEMA (information below)
  4. Contact New Jersey unemployment

President Obama has issued a major disaster declaration for Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union Counties.

That means the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for disaster assistance from businesses and individuals in those counties. Contact FEMA online at
disasterassistance.gov, by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA has also announced that it is continuing to assess the damage in the state, and other counties could be added to the list. If that happens, we will get the information to you as quickly as possible.

Hurricane Sandy has been an unprecedented disaster. It will take a tremendous amount of time and effort to fully recover from its effects. Rest assured that NJBIA will be here to assist you and your business as we begin the task of rebuilding. In the meantime, be safe.

Remember to check our website njamusements.com. We always can be contacted at 732-240-0000 or by email njaa40plus@aol.com.

Sincerely,
Kimberle Samarelli
Executive Director
New Jersey Amusement Association