This past week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for a third dose to be administered at least six months after the initial series of shots in certain populations.
On Wednesday, the FDA<https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-booster-…> recommended that the populations that are recommended to receive an additional dose are individuals 65 years of age and older, individuals 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19, and individuals 18 through 64 years of age whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of severe COVID-19.
Yesterday, the CDC Director<https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html> endorsed the CDC<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html> Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation for a booster shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in those 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, and people ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. The CDC Director went further and recommended that those 18 through 49 with underlying medical conditions and people 18 through 64 years of ago who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings may receive an additional dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after their initial Pfizer series.
The immunocompromised population in New Jersey has already been eligible to receive a third dose of both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines since mid-August<https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/testing-and-treatment/who-should…>. There are 1,658 COVID-19 vaccination locations throughout the state of NJ. A complete list of NJ’s vaccination centers is available online at covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder.
The homebound population will continue to be served by local and county providers. The intake form can be found at covid19.nj.gov/homeboundvax. For assistance completing the survey by phone, individuals can call the NJ COVID-19 Vaccination Call Center at (855) 568-0545.
Have a good weekend and take care.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
Today - Wednesday, September 22nd from 9:00am - 5:00pm, FEMA will be at the Mendham Township Municipal Building (2 W Main St, Brookside) to meet with individual residents who have submitted a request for individual assistance and who would like to apply for assistance due to damages caused by Tropical Storm Ida.
Representatives will be able to answer questions, assist with registration, and conduct inquiries on the status of existing applications.
For more information, contact Mendham Township's Office of Emergency Management at: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com.
On Wednesday, September 22nd from 9:00am - 5:00pm, FEMA will deploy a team to Mendham Township to meet with individual residents who have submitted a request for individual assistance and who would like to apply for assistance due to damages caused by Tropical Storm Ida.
FEMA representatives will be stationed in the Township Meeting Room at Mendham Township's Municipal Building (2 W Main St, Brookside) and be able to answer questions, assist with registration, and conduct inquiries on the status of existing applications.
For more information, contact Mendham Township's Office of Emergency Management at: mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com.
Over the last couple of weeks, Mendham Township officials have been working with the State and County Offices of Emergency Management (OEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to assess the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida. Last Friday, Morris County officially met the threshold for a FEMA major disaster declaration<https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4614>.
Over 400 FEMA employees are currently here in our state along with 16 disaster survivor assistance teams, who are helping to register residents and process applications. As of earlier this week, the assistance teams visited over 1,800 families across NJ.
To better serve each county, FEMA will be standing-up disaster recovery centers (DRCs) across the state to connect residents to storm related resources. FEMA plans to operate Morris County’s DRC at the Morris Plains Community Center at 51 Jim Fear Drive, Morris Plains, from September 20th through September 23rd. The DRCs that have already been set-up have had several hundred residents come through for assistance. They've registered over 37,000 residents already - 27,000 homeowners and about 10,000 renters.
On Wednesday, September 22nd from 9:00am - 5:00pm, FEMA will deploy a team to Mendham Township to meet with individual residents who have submitted a request for individual assistance and who would like to apply for assistance. FEMA representatives will be able to answer questions, assist with registration, and conduct inquiries on the status of existing applications. If you would like to meet with FEMA, please email the Mendham Township OEM for more information at mendhamtwpoem(a)gmail.com.
To start your FEMA claim, go to disasterassistance.gov<https://www.disasterassistance.gov/>. Additional resources can be found on the FEMA Fact Sheet<https://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/factsheets/dad_disaster_declaration.pdf> and nj.gov/ida<https://nj.gov/ida/>.
Have a great Sunday, and take care.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
Today, we mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
We honor and remember the people who perished in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville—including the heroic first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice running toward danger to help others.
The coordinated terrorist attacks on our country killed nearly 3,000 people, almost 750 of them New Jersey residents. Two decades later, more first responders and survivors have died from 9/11-related illnesses than on the day itself. We honor their lives and their memory on this occasion, and mourn all we lost on that terrible day.
Mendham Township is commemorating this anniversary in a number of ways.
Last Sunday, Township officials, Ralston Engine Company, and Brookside Engine Company began their 20th anniversary tribute by joining Frank Siller, from the Tunnels to Towers Foundation<https://t2t.org/>, as he walked through the Mendhams to Morris Township on his 500 mile journey from the Pentagon, to Shanksville, to Ground Zero. Later in the afternoon, members of the Brookside Engine Company paid tribute to the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters who selflessly gave their lives on September 11, 2001<https://www.newjerseyhills.com/observer-tribune/news/video-in-mendham-towns…> by climbing the equivalent of the 100 stories of the World Trade Center.
This morning, the Township will sound sirens around town at four times to pay tribute to that horrific day - 8:46am when the North Tower was struck, 9:03am when the South Tower was struck, 9:37am when the Pentagon was struck, and 10:03am when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. During the Brookside Engine Company’s Annual Clambake<https://www.bec1.org/new-page-1>, later this afternoon, Mendham Township’s first responders will lead a remembrance ceremony starting at 3:30pm which will go until 4:00pm. The tribute will be accompanied by a static memorial that will be stationed at the Brookside Community Club Field throughout the duration of the event.
As we continue to reflect on that harrowing day, let us also remember the strength, solidarity, and hope we have gained over the last 20 years.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
As we approach Labor Day, storm restoration efforts continue across the state.
While Tropical Depression Ida wreaked havoc across New Jersey, Wednesday night, Mendham Township’s Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, Fire Department, First Aid Squad, and Department of Public Works were responding to 911 calls - all night and into the following evening.
Thankfully, by Thursday afternoon much of the flooding in Mendham Township had subsided and our first responders were called to assist other counties in their emergency response efforts.
The NJ Department of Banking and Insurance has provided guidance on filing a homeowners or auto insurance claim for storm-related damage, as well as information about flood insurance<https://www.state.nj.us/dobi/pressreleases/pr210902.html>.
Thanks to the work of the Mendham Township DPW and our Township partners at JCP&L, all roads in Mendham Township were reopened on Friday and power to all residents has been restored.
As we continue to enjoy this long weekend and take part in the Mendham Pastime Club’s Annual Labor Day Carnival, Parade, and Fireworks<https://www.mendhampastimeclub.com/ld-carnival>, please take a minute to appreciate and thank our DPW employees who work all year round to keep our neighborhoods and public facilities safe and clean. Due to their tireless efforts in responding to the impact of this week’s storm, Mendham Township was able to rebound incredibly quickly.
Stay safe, have a great Labor Day, and take care.
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township