Disaster declaration approved after South Jersey storms

EAST GREENWICH TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed off on a disaster declaration for parts of South Jersey battered by severe storms last month.

The declaration means federal funds will now be available to state and local government to help rebuild and repair damage in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

Gov. Chris Christie requested the aid last week and said the storm caused more than $15 million worth of damage and knocked out power to more than 300,000 people.

Christie sought the aid after preliminary assessments showed the state met federal eligibility requirements.

Some criticized Christie after the storm for not seeking help sooner and blamed his presidential campaign as a distraction.

For the residents effected in the Garden State, the aid is much needed.

If you take a look at Russell Rufino's neighborhood and you can see the damage left behind from the storms.

"A lot of siding damage, some garage door damage, some damage to my deck, damage to my roof, got one window damaged," he said.

Rufino's East Greenwich Township home was among the many caught in the June 23rd storms.

His shed was completely destroyed.

"It flew into the farm back there. This is what's left," said Rufino.

The National Weather Service said it was not a tornado but a macroburst with damaging winds that ripped through.

"Every time a bad storm comes now my wife and I both freak out," said Rufino.

One month later and getting back to normal has been going at a snail's pace.

"My insurance company has been good so far. It's been slow, I want to get everything done quicker than it's been going," said Rufino.

In nearby Gibbstown, Robert Medary is also trying to get back to normal.

"We've been doing a lot of chain-sawing. Five trees came down that night," said Medary.

A car was found smashed in a day after the storm and even now it still sits in the yard.

"I didn't even know where to start at first. It was pretty tough," said Medary.

Medary says he is glad to hear that the township may be legible to receive additional funding because the cleanup is far from over.

"We have a lot of cleanup to do. We don't have the funds for it but if the government comes through with a little bit of funds that will be helpful," said Medary.

Some of the approved funds will also go towards preventing storm damage in the future.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.