President to visit Passaic County city Sunday
President Obama speaks today during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. The White House announced President Obama will be visiting the hurricane-stricken areas of Paterson on Sunday.PATERSON — President Obama is coming to New Jersey on Sunday, the White House announced this afternoon.
The president will be in Paterson, but further details of the visit have not yet been announced.
The president’s visit comes after federal officials spent recent days touring states hit hard by Hurricane Irene. Today, Gov. Chris Christie is meeting with Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate.
Christie and several New Jersey lawmakers have asked the president to expedite federal disaster aid, as New Jersey towns continue to suffer flooding from rain-swelled rivers. The governor and Napolitano visited Paterson this afternoon.
Obama's announcement comes days after he declared a state of emergency for the Garden State, a move that makes federal resourcse and funds for Irene's cleanup. Monday, Christie lobbied the president to make the state a disaster area, enabling federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from the Hurricane immediately.
Staff writer Ginger Gibson contributed to this report.
Related coverage:
• As some N.J. residents begin to recover, others have just begun to feel Hurricane Irene's wrath
• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano coming to N.J. to survey flooding
• Gov. Christie, Sens. Lautenberg, Menendez seek federal funds for Hurricane Irene cleanup
• N.J. Congressman Rush Holt to assess damage of Hurricane Irene in his legislative district