Jersey City residents and business owners dealing with damage from Hurricane Irene are now able to apply for federal aid.

This afternoon, after President Obama?s visit to Wayne and Paterson, Gov. Christie announced that New Jersey?s request for disaster assistance had been approved for all 21 counties. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials were in Hudson County yesterday assessing the damage from last weekend?s storm.

?We?re moving very quickly to make sure we get everyone who needs assistance the assistance they need,? Patricia Brach, a FEMA public information officer, told us yesterday.

Jersey City residents and businesses can apply for federal assistance, including temporary housing, repair, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and other types of aid, by calling 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585 for those with hearing or speech impairments between 7 am and 10 pm, online at disasterassistance.gov, or via smartphone at m.fema.gov.

Disaster Recovery Centers will be set up in New Jersey for those who wish to speak to a FEMA rep in person, says Brach.

In the end, FEMA officials did not need to visit Jersey City yesterday to assess damage from the storm; visits to Secaucus, Kearny and Hoboken provided enough information to make a determination for the county.

Greg Kierce, the director of Jersey City?s Office of Emergency Management, says residents who were affected should continue to document any damage and repairs.

?It?s going to be a helping hand,? he says of the aid.

All Jersey City residents and businesses who suffered damage in the storm are encouraged to apply.