TRENTON – In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes responded with a statement Thursday, thanking the public officials and all others who helped to save lives. 
“As Mercer County begins to fully grasp and assess the destruction caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, I wish to thank the heroic first responders, the police, firefighters, EMTs, emergency workers and public works professionals, who worked throughout the day and night to save lives,” said Hughes.
“The courage and commitment our first responders have displayed throughout this crisis is awe-inspiring and appreciated,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that a few lives and have been lost. Hughes notes that it is with great sadness that he must report that despite the countless rescues that took place overnight, they are aware that at least two Mercer County souls have been lost.
He encouraged residents who have been displaced from their homes or who have lost property, that Mercer County is here to assist them.
“For those who made it through the storm without harm, I encourage you to check on the well-being of your friends and neighbors and to offer comfort in any way you can,” he said.
Finally, Hughes thanked “Gov. Phil Murphy for his quick action in declaring a State of Emergency in New Jersey, which will allow Mercer County to seek federal reimbursement for its disaster response and help us begin to pick up the pieces and recover.”