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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has opened its first Disaster Recovery Center in Union County, to enable residents to apply for disaster assistance in person. The Center is located at the Chisholm Community Center at 100 South Springfield Avenue in Springfield. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day of the week including Saturday and Sunday.

“Many residents have used FEMA’s website and toll-free number, but for those of you who need an extra hand, the Disaster Recovery Center enables you to talk to a FEMA representative in person,” said Freeholder Chairman Mirabella. “It is very reassuring to be able to speak with someone face to face, so if you have any questions at all about applying for disaster assistance, I urge you visit the Disaster Recovery Center.”

FEMA is expected to open additional centers at other locations in Union County within the next several days. Any of the centers, regardless of its location, can be used by any New Jersey resident.

For residents wishing to use FEMA’s online application process, visit disasterassitance.gov or call FEMA toll free, 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).

For all updates on Union County programs and services, visit ucnj.org or call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234.

Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak speaks with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Policy Analyst Naomi Johnson at the newly opened FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Springfield. The center was set up to assist residents who suffered property damage and loss due to Hurricane Sandy. Homeowners, renters and business owners can visit the center to register in person for assistance through FEMA and the federal Small Business Administration. The center is located at 100 S. Springfield Avenue in Springfield and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Prepares for the Next Storm Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminded residents to be aware that the nor’easter predicted for today and Thursday will bring high winds, rain, coastal flooding and possibly snow to the region, creating the potential for new power outages and other hazards.

“Union County residents have really shown a lot of heart in the past week, and I know that we can pull through the next storm together,” said Freeholder Chairman Mirabella. “Please take steps to prepare, and check on a friend or neighbor, too.”

Residents should make sure they have emergency supplies on hand including fresh batteries, water, non-perishable food such as bread, dried fruit and peanut butter, and any needed medications or medical supplies.

Residents who need to stay overnight in a shelter can call the non-emergency phone number of their local police department to find out if space is available in their community.

The Union County Regional Shelter in Cranford is also available for overnight shelter or for a place to warm up during the day. County personnel have been working with the Red Cross to staff the shelter, and the Salvation Army has provided cooked meals.

The shelter is located at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Avenue. Persons planning to stay overnight should call ahead at 908-709-7283 (press “2” for the shelter representative).

“If you’ve been coping with power outages at home all week, the nor’easter may create new challenges for you,” said Mirabella. “Please stay safe and don’t hesitate to use a public shelter if you need one.”

Mirabella also advised residents to exercise renewed caution when driving after the nor’easter. The new storm may loosen trees and branches that were already weakened by Hurricane Sandy, creating new roadblocks and hazards.

“We’re asking motorists to take care and be alert for people working in the roads, including County personnel and crews from utility companies, FEMA and the National Forest Service,” said Mirabella.

County residents are also reminded to run generators only outdoors. Generators must be placed at least 25 feet away from windows to prevent dangerous fumes from seeping indoors. Running a generator in a basement or garage, even with windows open, can cause potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

To donate food or cash for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, visit the New Jersey Community FoodBank at njfoodbank.org or call 908-355-3663.

UNION COUNTY, NJ—In response to the devastation facing small businesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella today announced the Union County Economic Development Corporation is now prepared to expedite loan applications of up to $15,000 to meet the post-storm recovery needs of small businesses.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Union County’s economy and we are offering an important program that will enable them to ramp up and get back to work at full capacity,” Mirabella said. “We need to keep Union County moving forward.”

The Union County Economic Development Corporation, which receives partial funding through the County of Union, is committed to providing small business owners with a decision within two weeks of receiving a completed application. The loans carry no prepayment penalty, so you can pay off your balance with insurance proceeds if you choose to do so.

For larger capital needs, the UCEDC continues to offer loans up to $250,000 with conventional processing periods.

Those interested in applying for these programs, should call today at 908-527-1166 to speak with UCEDC loan officers – the offices are open and ready for your call. UCEDC is located at 75 Chestnut Street, Cranford, NJ 07016-2937.

Registered Union County voters who wish to vote early in person can still vote today, Monday November 5, until 4:30 p.m. To vote early in person, come to the County Clerk’s offices at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. These are the only two locations for in-person early voting.

A remote voting process is in place for registered voters who have been forced to relocate outside of Union County due to Hurricane Sandy. This process involves using email (access to a printer and scanner will be needed) or a fax machine. This process can be started at any time on Monday, November 5, up until 5:00 p.m. on Election Day. Instructions are available at the County Clerk’s website, ucnj.org/ votebymail.

Almost all Union County polling places are expected to be open on Election Day, Tuesday November 6. An updated list will be available later today.

Voters who wish to vote in person but who cannot travel to their assigned polling place should be aware that the State Division of Elections has authorized any registered voter to cast a provisional ballot at any polling place in New Jersey on Election Day, Tuesday November 6.

A complete list of polling places in New Jersey is available online at the New Jersey Department of State“Polling Place Search” page. For questions about polling locations in Union County, voters can also call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

For all updates about voting in Union County visit ucnj.org/ctyclerk or call the County Clerk, 908-527-4996.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advised Union County residents that Election Day polling places for several Districts and Wards have changed as a result of continued power outages due to Hurricane Sandy.

The changes only apply to certain polling places in Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit and Westfield.

Berkeley Heights: District 9 will vote at the Berkeley Heights Fire House, 411 Hamilton Avenue.

Clark: Ward 1 Districts 1, 2, and 3 will vote at the Municipal Building (formerly the Charles H. Brewer School), 430 Westfield Avenue.

Cranford: Districts 8, 12 and 30 will vote at the Orange Avenue School, 901 Orange Avenue.

Scotch Plains: Districts 4 and 5 will vote at Park Middle School, 580 Park Avenue. Districts 19, 20 and 23 will vote at Terrill Middle School, 1301 Terrill Road.

Springfield: Districts 1 and 4 will vote at the Sarah Bailey Civic Center, 30 Church Mall. Districts 5 and 6 will vote at Florence Gaudineer School, 75 South Springfield Avenue. Districts 10, 13 and 14 will vote at Thelma Sandmeier School, 666 South Springfield Avenue.

Summit: Ward 1 Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6 will vote at Summit High School, 125 Kent Place Boulevard. Ward 2 Districts 9, 12, and 13 will vote at Summit Middle School on Morris Avenue.

Westfield: Ward 2 Districts 2 and 3 will vote at Roosevelt Intermediate School, 301 Clark Street. Ward 2 Districts 4 and 5 will vote at Benjamin Franklin School, 700 Prospect Street.

To see this information online at the Union County Board of Elections, go to ucnj.org/government/board-of-elections-2/municipalities and use the link “Polling Place Changes due to Hurricane Sandy” (the other link on this page is a pdf listing all regular polling places in Union County).

Voters who do not know their District or Ward can find their polling place by using an online search tool provided through the New Jersey Department of State at voter.njsvrs.com, or call the Union County Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

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Registered Union County voters who wish to vote early in person can still vote today, Monday November 5, until 4:30 p.m. To vote early in person, come to the County Clerk’s offices at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth or 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. These are the only two locations for in-person early voting.

A remote voting process is in place for registered voters who have been forced to relocate outside of Union County due to Hurricane Sandy. This process involves using email (access to a printer and scanner will be needed) or a fax machine. This process can be started at any time on Monday, November 5, up until 5:00 p.m. on Election Day. Instructions are available at the County Clerk’s website, ucnj.org/ votebymail.

Almost all Union County polling places are expected to be open on Election Day, Tuesday November 6. An updated list will be available later today.

Voters who wish to vote in person but who cannot travel to their assigned polling place should be aware that the State Division of Elections has authorized any registered voter to cast a provisional ballot at any polling place in New Jersey on Election Day, Tuesday November 6.

A complete list of polling places in New Jersey is available online at the New Jersey Department of State“Polling Place Search” page. For questions about polling locations in Union County, voters can also call the Board of Elections at 908-527-4123.

For all updates about voting in Union County visit ucnj.org/ctyclerk or call the County Clerk, 908-527-4996.

Union County, NJ – The Office of Union County Clerk Joann Rajoppi advised Union County voters that new options have been made available for early voting by email or fax. The procedures are designed to help ensure that registered voters can participate in the election, even if they cannot get to their regular polling place. These procedures are available only to registered Union County voters who have been forced to leave Union County due to Hurricane Sandy.

Many Union County residents have been forced to leave the area, either for their own safety or to look after other family members, and the gas shortage has added to the difficulty in getting around. With these new options, voters can participate from any location without having to travel back to their regular polling place.

The new options were issued by the State of New Jersey Division of Elections and apply statewide. Basically, they enable displaced voters to use electronic procedures that are normally available only to military and overseas voters.

If you are a Union County resident displaced by Hurricane Sandy, the first step is to visit the County Clerk’s website, ucnj.org/ctyclerk/votebymail and download an application for a Vote-by-Mail ballot.

After you fill out the application, email it to the County Clerk’s office at lbobish@ucnj.org or fax it to 908-558-3592. The deadline for submitting applications by fax or email is 5:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday November 6.

The next step is conducted by the Union County Clerk’s office, which will verify that you are registered to vote in Union County. The Clerk will then send a ballot back to you by email or fax, whichever you have chosen.

The last step is to fill out your ballot and send it back by email to UCBOE@ucnj.org or by fax to 908-527-4127. Be sure to include the secrecy waiver form that came with your ballot. The deadline for sending your ballot and waiver is 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday November 6.

Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union

Chestnut St. in Roselle

Rahway River Park

Rahway River Park

Springfield Ave in Cranford next to Nomahegan Park

Watchung Reservation in Mountainside near the Trailside Nature & Science Center

Watchung Reservation in Mountainside near the Trailside Nature & Science Center

Warinanco Park in Roselle

Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union

Cranford

Echo Lake Park

Echo Lake Park

Fanwood

Plainfield

In response to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will open her offices in Elizabeth and Westfield on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday November 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for voters seeking last-minute Vote-By-Mail ballots.

The office in Elizabeth at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 113, and the office in Westfield at 300 North Avenue East, will be open as a public service for those voters who choose the Vote-By-Mail option for the Presidential Election to be held on Tuesday, November 6.

“In the after-math of Hurricane Sandy, there have been many inquiries as to how power-outages and mail delays will effect voting procedures for the general election,” Rajoppi said. “In order to ensure that every Union County resident has the opportunity to have their vote counted, we’ve made the decision to extend hours for the Vote-By-Mail service.”

Sample ballots for the Presidential Election in each Union County municipality may be viewed by going to the County Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/sample-ballots.

The Vote-By- Mail option allows voters to pick up their ballots, vote in privacy and deposit them in a secured lockbox – all at the same office through 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5. Completed ballots will be kept in a secure lockbox under the control of the Union County Board of Elections, who will collect them for counting.

“We are hoping that this option will make voting more accessible, particularly for senior citizens and those who have been adversely affected by the severe weather this week.” Rajoppi said.

Regular office hours at the Westfield Annex of the County Clerk are 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Regular office hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The County Clerk’s office has processed more than 10,000 mail-in ballots to date for the Presidential Election and expects the number to exceed 17,000 by Election Day, Tuesday, November 6.

To obtain a Vote-By-Mail application, voters may download the form at the Clerk’s website: https://ucnj.org/vote-by-mail, or obtain one in person at the Clerk’s office. For more information, please contact the County Clerk’s office at 908-527-4996.

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