By Mike Dougherty
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in a news conference Saturday says it’s time to move forward and start rebuilding the Garden State in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Unprecedented damage to the Jersey Shore will most certainly never be forgotten, but Christie says the time for mourning is over.
“I want the people in New Jersey to know that we have a lot ahead of us to get over the storm but it doesn’t mean we have to do it alone. We work on it together.”
Christie says utility crews are working around the clock to restore power and normalcy for New Jersey residents.
“As long as there is a safe environment, we should kids as quickly as possible back to school. This will be good for kids to return normalcy to their lives and even better for their parents.”
The travel ban in Atlantic and Cape May counties has been lifted so residents can go home to assess damage.
“I feel it’s important for me to see the extent of damage myself,” Christie said. “So I’ve been traveling all over the state myself to see how it’s impacting our fellow citizens first hand.”
Massive power outages have crippled gas stations in the northern part of the state, prompting an odd-even gas restriction order. Christie says 70-percent of the service stations north of Route 195 are still dark, so even if they were able to get shipments of fuel, they would not have the ability to pump it.
Sandy Coverage
- Latest Sandy Coverage
- Watch: Stone Harbor, Avalon Aerial Tour
- Watch: Townslends Inlet, Sea Isle, Strathmere
- Watch: Margate Aerial Tour
- Watch: Ocean City Aerial Tour
- Watch: Ventnor Aerial Tour
- How To Help
- Storm Victims Call: 1-800-621-FEMA
