Gov. Chris Christie, in a joint statment with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, applauded the "critical" Sandy aid approval by the House of Representatives Friday, but said the $9.7 billion outlay is merely a "down payment." "While we are pleased with this progress, today was just a down payment and it is now time to go even further and pass the final and more complete, clean disaster aid bill," they said. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure Friday afternoon allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to borrow $9.7 billion to pay insurance claims made by victims of …

The most severe and destructive storm to ever hit the Jersey Shore also left a record-high price tag: $29.4 billion in damages. The Christie administration has completed a preliminary analysis that puts the price of Sandy's destruction at the costly figure. The estimate will be further refined in the days ahead, officials say. The preliminary number is based on empirical data, field observations and geographical mapping, and supported by "expert advice" from the administration's cabinet members and an outside consulting company, said Governor Christie. “In a short period of time, we put …

Governor Christie said he may lift gas rationing on Monday. The governor, speaking at a press conference in Seaside Park on Friday, said the rationing has worked well and eased congestion at gas stations. But he expects all power to be restored by Sunday, so rationing should therefore end. The following counties are now limited on the days in which they can fill up their gas tanks: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren. According to the state, plates ending in an even number can fill up on even-numbered days of the month, …

All 12 Atlantic City casinos have now reopened after being forced to close due to Tropical Storm Sandy last week, Gov. Chris Christie announced Monday afternoon, Nov. 5. The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel was the final casino to reopen Monday morning, Christie said. Casinos began reopening on Friday afternoon, Nov. 2, and continued to open throughout the weekend. They were mandated to close as of Sunday afternoon, Oct. 28, in preparation for the storm. Atlantic City was given mandatory evacuation orders, and those were lifted on Friday. At the same time, Chrisite announced the casinos could begin…

Housing for displaced New Jersey residents will become the focus in the post-Sandy disaster recovery process, U.S. Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano said. Napolitano was touring disaster recovery areas in Monmouth County on Sunday, including a stop at a Monmouth County supply distribution center at Holy Family School in Hazlet where she held a press conference with New Jersey officials. “We know we lost a lot of housing in this area,” Napolitano said. “What we want to focus on is debris removal so that equipment can get in, so that housing inspections can be done and housing repairs…

Storm-weary residents will try to return to their routines this weekend, picking up the pieces of their broken homes and battered boardwalks as they recover from the first-ever recorded hurricane to directly hit New Jersey. They face a future shaped by Hurricane Sandy after the "superstorm" washed away boardwalks in Belmar and Spring Lake; sent amusement rides, gazebos and beachfront businesses out to sea; flooded Hoboken streets; felled trees throughout the state; and still leaves millions in the dark. They also face sustained, painful three-hour gas lines that the Christie administration …

The Atlantic City Boardwalk is usually empty in November. However, there was a particularly eerie silence that enveloped the boardwalk on Friday morning as residents returned home after evacuation orders were rescinded earlier in the day. It was a silence and a stillness briefly interrupted by a siren one can only assume has been sounding for the last week. As the afternoon arrived, the sound of that alarm was complemented by the sounds of a city coming back to life, even as more storm clouds began to roll in. Just after 2 p.m., rain returned as the city's casinos readied to reopen. Around …

As of 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, Atlantic City is back in business. Gov. Chris Christie announced travel restrictions into the city were lifted and the casinos were reopened as of 10 a.m. Division of Gaming Enforcement investigators and personnel have been assigned to each property to ensure compliance with internal control issues and to complete a final authorization to commence operations, according to the Governor's Office. Division Director David Rebuck said a complete analysis of casino properties has been completed, according to Christie. This includes the casino floors, its equipment, …

Following Hurricane Sandy, it can be tough to reach all of your friends and family to let them know that you're OK. The American Red Cross has a "Safe and Well" registry that can help spread the word. You can go to the site and enter your information, and confirm that you're "safe and well." Then, friends and family can also go to the site and search for your name. Here are instructions from the Red Cross site: Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site. Search for Loved OnesConcerned family and friends can search …

Americans are used to watching telethons for desperate and needy people around the globe. On Friday, a one-hour live benefit telethon featuring superstar guests will raise money for an issue close to home: the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting headline the event. “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" airs from 8-9 p.m. on NBCUniversal networks. The Huffington Post reports that money raised will go to the Red Cross to help surivors with the baiscs – medical care, shelter, food. The live telethon will be hosted by NBC “Today” …

The federal government stands by New Jersey as it suffers in the wake of Tropical Storm Sandy, President Obama said Wednesday afternoon while visiting Brigantine alongside Governor Christie. Obama confirmed FEMA aid has already been approved for Atlantic County, and that restoration efforts will continue as long as needed. "We will not forget," Obama said. "We will follow up to make sure you get the help you need. There are 2,000 personnel from FEMA on the ground, Obama said. "They are talking to communities so people know how they can get the help they need," Obama said. "The important thing…

NJ TRANSIT has announced that the majority of its bus lines will begin running on Thursday, as well as limited Access Link service.  The bus lines are part of a slow but steady restart of NJ TRANSIT's service following Hurricane Sandy, announced the same day as the 3 p.m. restoration of service on the River Line light rail between the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden and Trenton Transit Center.  “This is tremendous progress,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson in a press release. “We are not out of the woods by any stretch, but we will …

UPDATE, 3 p.m.: Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson has requested Governor Chris Christie lift travel restrictions on Brigantine, Margate and Longport after touring those areas on Wednesday, according to county officials. Christie, who was in Brigantine with President Barack Obama Wednesday afternoon, must approve the request before residents can return to those areas. UPDATE, 2:43 p.m.: President Barack Obama and Gov. Chris Christie returned to the airport just after 2:30. The two were picked up by a cavalcade to be driven to Brigantine, where they are expected to make a statement …

President Barack Obama will tour Atlantic City this afternoon with Gov. Chris Christie to view the damage caused by Sandy, which hit the city as a tropical storm Monday night at 8 p.m., the White House announced. Obama will arrive at Atlantic City International Airport around 1 p.m., and his arrival is closed to the public, according to the White House. Obama will meet with citizens who are recovering from the storm, and with first responders who put their lives at risk to save members of the community who remained at home during the storm, according to a release issued by the White House. …

President Obama will travel to New Jersey Wednesday and join Governor Christie in viewing damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, the White House has announced. Obama will talk with people who are recovering from the storm and thank first responders. Additional scheduling details will be released when they are available.

Governor Christie first told the story. These photos confirmed it. A local photographer captured the partial destruction of the Seaside Heights Boardwalk. In Seaside Heights, "the roller coaster or the log flume is in the ocean," Christie said. "The level of devastation at the Jersey Shore is unthinkable," he said. Rides and chunks of one of the town's piers are in the water, Christie said. Now is time for the rebuilding, once the storm moves away. it won't be easy.

Gov. Chris Christie ordered state offices to close Wednesday due to the continued danger posed by and ongoing cleanup efforts associated with the power outages, coastal flooding, and evacuations resultant of Hurricane Sandy. State offices were also closed on Monday and Tuesday. Non-essential employees should not report for their normal day shift on Wednesday, while essential employees should report to work on schedule, according to a press release issued by the governor's office. All notifications are currently being made and coordinated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in an …

To help residents and emergency personnel cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Comcast is opening up its Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey to anyone who needs them–including non-Comcast customers. Comcast owns and operates thousands of WiFi hotspots in the Philadelphia region and in New Jersey that are typically only available to its customers. To use a hotspot, search for the “xfinitywifi” network name. Non-customers or those who do not have their log-in credentials can click on the “Not a Comcast subscriber?” link at the bottom of the Sign-In page. Then …

The nation's largest statewide public transportation system says it faces a massive repair and restoration effort in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. NJTransit, consisting of 12 commuter train lines, 3 light rail lines and 261 bus routes, suffered "unprecedented devastation" from the storm, according to James Simpson, New Jersey's transportation commissioner and chairman of the NJTransit board. The system normally provides 895,000 weekday trips, servicing 164 rail stations, 61 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops. Little of that activity was evident on Tuesday, however. Instead, …

The Garden State Parkway is now open but over 200 other state roads remain closed, Governor Christie announced on his Twitter account. "Don't drive unless you absolutely have to," he said. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) had announced the Garden State Parkway closure will be extended to Exit 129 by 4 p.m. on Monday. The NJTA closed the Parkway in both directions from Exit 63 through the southern terminus at noon. The decision to extend the closure through Exit 129 in Woodbridge was made because of the deteriorating weather conditions in advance of Hurricane Sandy, according to a …