>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, THE RECOVERY BEGINS.

CLEANUP EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY AROUND THE STATE.

PEOPLE ARE PICKING UP THE PIECES IN THE AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL STORM IDA, THE DEADLIEST STORM IN NEW JERSEY SINCE THE SUPER STORM SANDY.

AT LEAST 25 ARE CONFIRMED DEAD, DROWNING IN THEIR HOMES AND VEHICLES AFTER RECORD-BREAKING RAINFALL.

AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR MURPHY.

THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST BLINDSIDED BY THE STORM, CLAIMING THE LIVES OF NEARLY 50 PEOPLE ACROSS FIVE STATES FROM MARYLAND TO CONNECTICUT.

THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS STILL BEING SURVEYED BUT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETERMINED THREE TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN IN NEW JERSEY AND ANOTHER FOUR IN PENNSYLVANIA THE STRONGEST, THOUGH, IN ROSTER COUNTY WAS AN EF-3 WITH 150 MILE AN HOUR WINDS, CAUSING TWO MINOR INJURIES BUT DECIMATING HOMES.

IT IS JUST THE FIFTH TIME IN STATE HISTORY A TORNADO OF THAT MAGNITUDE HIT HERE.

THE OTHER TWO CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN EDGEWATER PARK AND PRINCETON.

THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS ACROSS THE STATE WITHOUT POWER.

LATE THURSDAY, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN APPROVING GOVERNOR MURPHY'S REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION, MAKING THE STATE ELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF FROM FEMA.

STATE LEADERS TODAY CONTINUED TOURING DEVASTATING AREAS AND THE THREAT FROM FLOODWATERS IS STILL NOT OVER.

WE HAVE MORE COVERAGE.

>> IT IS VERY TRAGIC, WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> SHE IS ONE OF THE 600 -- MOST GOT OUT BUT THEY ARE FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY.

>> I HAVE LOST A LOT AND WE ARE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD.

>> LIKE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GO?

>> ARE THEY GOING TO PUT US SOMEWHERE AND FOR HOW LONG?

WE NEED TO FEEL SECURE.

>> Reporter: FOUR DROWNED HERE, UNABLE TO ESCAPE A BASEMENT APARTMENT.

>> WE TRY TO GET EVERYBODY OUT IN IT WAS NOT UNTIL THEY WENT THROUGH UNIT BY UNIT THAT WAY FAR SAW THEM.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY TOURED THE SCENE AND EXPLAINED HOW FIREFIGHTERS HELPED OTHERS FLOODED TRAPPED INSIDE FLUTTERED APARTMENTS.

>> THEY KNOCKED DOWN THE CEILING.

THEY HOISTED THE PEOPLE TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND GOT THEM OUT.

>> Reporter: EARLIER, THEY TOURED MILLBURN'S A DEVASTATED DOWNTOWN AND UPDATED NEW JERSEY'S CLIMBING DEATH TOLL.

WATER KILLED STORM OF VICTIMS >> IT IS UNCOMMON BEEN ON ALL OF US, THE MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT OF ALL REALIZE -- THEY ARE THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THESE STORMS AND WATER CAN KILL YOU.

>> Reporter: THE RAIN STOPPED BUT THE FLOODWATER KEEPS ON RISING.

THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE EVACUATIONS AND IS EXPECTED TO CREST AT 22 FEET AT 8:00 TONIGHT IN FAIRFIELD AND MORE SEVERE FLOODING REMAINS A PROBLEM ALONG THIS AREA IN -- FIRES COMPLICATED FLOOD RISK USE IN MANVILLE, THAT SAW HISTORIC FLOODING DURING IRENE.

100 EVACUEES ESTATE AT A RED CROSS SHELTER.

OFFICIALS HERE AND ACROSS THE STATE FACE A STAGGERING PROBLEM, THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED RESIDENTS, 1000 OF THEM IN BERGEN COUNTY ALONE.

THERE FLOOD RAVAGED HOMES ARE UNINHABITABLE AND IN NEED OF PLACE TO LIVE.

OTHERS FACE A DAUNTING PROCESS.

>> THEY NEED TO GET INTO TEMPORARY, PERMANENT APARTMENTS.

>> THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING HOUSING ANYWHERE.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> IT IS A DIFFICULT THING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

APARTMENTS ARE NOT VACANT.

>> WE DO NOT KNOW -- WE JUST DO NOT KNOW WHERE WE WILL BE.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE DISPLACED FAMILIES TIME TO FIND HOUSING AND TIME TO GRIEVE.

IN ELIZABETH, SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> BUSINESSES AND ENTIRE DOWNTOWNS HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BY IDA'S WRATH.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST DISASTER TO STRIKE.

BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STILL PICKING UP THE PIECES FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WITH REVENUE LOSSES CAUSED BY SUCH DOWNS AND A DWINDLING WORKFORCE THAT -- NOW THEY ARE BATTLING CLEANUP AND STARTING OVER ONCE AGAIN.

GOVERNOR MURPHY VISITED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN MILLBURN, ANNOUNCING NEW HURRICANE RELIEF PROGRAM.

A STRONG COMMUNITY BOND IS HELPING THE TOWN PULL THROUGH.

>> THE BASEMENT HAS ABOUT FIVE FEET OF WATER.

WE WERE LUCKY -- THE BASEMENT IS REPLACEABLE.

THE HARDEST PART IS GETTING THE WATER OUT.

>> Reporter: TROPICAL STORM IDA IS A BLOW TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE JUST STARTING TO PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER THE STRUGGLES OF THE PANDEMIC.

THAT ARE HIRING PROBLEMS AND A CONCERN OF RISING COVID CASES.

>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUPPORT LIKE THIS AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN HERE.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE DOZENS OF RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES GOING FROM BUSINESS TO BUSINESS, LENDING A HAND AND HELPING WITH CLEANUP EFFORTS.

THIS RESIDENT AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WENT TO A LOCAL BAKERY TO CLEAR OUT DESTROYED ITEMS.

THEY TOLD US THE SPACE WHERE SHE SELLS OF FOOD IS RELATIVELY OKAY BUT THE EQUIPMENT IS RUINS.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR THIS A FURNITURE STORE NEARBY.

>> I GRABBED MY KIDS AND WE ALL CAME DOWN HERE AND HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR HOURS.

THE FURNITURE STORE -- THE MUD WAS, LIKE, AS YOU CAN SEE, UP TO OUR FEET AND THERE MUST'VE BEEN AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE SHOVELING BUCKETS AND BUCKETS OF MUD AND DIRT AND DEBRIS AND GLASS, EVERYTHING.

IT WAS 95% KIDS FROM IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL'S AN HOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AN HOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

>> THANKS TO THEM, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OUT THE FOR MERCHANDISE AND THEY ARE DOING MORE.

IT BRINGS ME TO TEARS.

>> Reporter: HE LOST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF MERCHANDISE, ALL OF IT NOW SITTING OUTSIDE, COVERED IN MUD, DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

THE INSIDE OF THE STORE -- >> THIS IS WHAT WE ARE FACING.

IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

>> Reporter: STILL, HIS ATTITUDE -- HE IS REMAINING POSITIVE.

>> WE ARE FOCUSING ON BEING HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND OUT.

IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER.

PART OF ME IS DEFINITELY FRUSTRATED, BUT I AM OVERWHELMED FROM THE SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE THAT WANT ME TO GET OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THEY CANNOT IMAGINE NOT LENDING A HELPING HAND.

WE SPOKE TO SOMEONE ON VIDEO CHAT.

>> HE IS VERY FLOORED BY EVERYONE HELPING OUT.

THIS IS SAD BUT IT IS GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY AROUND HERE HELPING OUT.

IT IS TRULY A BLESSING.

>> GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY WALKED AROUND TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE IN A PLACE HE SAYS WAS CRUSHED.

>> THIS WILL REQUIRE MORE SUPPORT AND WE WILL BE THERE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS FEDERAL AID IS COMING AND HE ASKED FOR $10 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES HIT BY TROPICAL STORM IDA.

HE ASKS BUSINESS OWNERS TO DOCUMENT ALL THE DAMAGE AND TO KEEP RECEIPTS FROM VENDORS CLEANING UP.

UNDER SPOTLIGHT NEWS, NJTV NEWS.

>>> THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY WAS NOT SPARED EITHER.

IN SOUTH JERSEY, THE STRONGEST OF THE THREE TORNADOES WREAKED HAVOC ON FARMS AND AND EF-3 BLASTED THROUGH THE COUNTY.

THEY TOPPLED OVER SILOS.

BARNS WERE FLATTENED AND LIVESTOCK WAS TRAPPED.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.

>> HE STILL CANNOT BELIEVE HIS EYES.

>> THIS ALL GOT DESTROYED.

WE HAD TO MOVE ALL THE KIDS TO ONE SIDE, TO A SHELTER.

>> THEY HAD BEEN OPERATING SINCE THE 1940s, UNTIL AND EF-3 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN, LEAVING A PATH OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

>> MOST OF THAT BARN IS ONE OF THE BETTER SHAPE BARNS THAT WE HAD BUT IT IS NO MORE.

ALL OF OUR BARNS ARE JUST COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WE HAVE COWS RUNNING ALL OVER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO HOLD THEM IN.

EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED.

>> THEY SERVE AS THE LARGEST DAIRY FARM WITH 1400 COWS ON THE PROPERTY, TYPICALLY MILKING ABOUT 650 AND REDUCING 55,000 POUNDS OF MILK EACH DAY.

AFTER THREE OF THEIR COWS WERE KILLED IN THE STORM AND MUCH OF THEIR EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY DESTROYED, HE SAYS A FUTURE PRODUCTION IS GOING TO BE QUITE A CHALLENGE.

>> IT IS A HECK OF A SETBACK.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO REGROUP.

ALL THESE COMPANIES HELPED US AND THEY GAVE US VOLUNTEER TIME AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET US BACK TO SOME SORT OF OPERATION.

>> THIS DID A NUMBER ON THIS FARM.

THIS USED TO BE A BUILDING THAT HOUSED THE COWS.

IT IS COMPLETELY GONE.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST LEVELED AND THE OWNERS SAY IT COULD TAKE YEARS BEFORE ANYTHING IS NEAR HER BACK TO NORMAL.

>> THE ONE THING WE TRY TO DO THE BEST IS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE COWS HAVE A CONTAINED PLACE.

WE GOT THAT ACCOMPLISHED.

WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING AROUND THE CLOCK, TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.

NOW IT IS JUST THE CLEANUP PROCESS.

>> THIS FARM IS SIMILAR.

THE TORNADO RIPPED OFF THE ROOFS OF BARNS AND FLATTENED GREEN HOUSES.

WEATHER EXPERTS SAID IDA HAD ALL THE INGREDIENTS CREATING THE PERFECT STORMS THAT DESTROYED MUCH OF THIS FARMING COMMUNITY.

>> THIS WAS ROUGHLY WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL PARTS OF THE STATES, FROM PRINCETON ON SOUTH.

THIS WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SYSTEM.

ANYWHERE IN THAT LOCATION HAD AN ENHANCED RISK.

AND THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WE HAD THIS COLD FRONT COMING DOWN, WHICH HAS, THROUGH, SO WE ARE MUCH COOLER AND DRIER AND IT IS NICER OUT.

I INTERACTED WITH THAT COLD FRONT AND THAT ADDED MORE TO THE WIND CIRCULATION IN SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE AND MADE IT EVEN MORE LIKELY FOR STRONG TORNADOES TO FORM.

>> HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE PEOPLE COMING OUT TO HELP YOU GUYS?

>> IT FEELS GREAT.

WE ARE BLESSED TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES.

THERE ARE MANY PLACES WE SEE -- IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBORS WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND.

>> THIS FARM HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND THEY ARE READY TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO BRING IT BACK TO FULL PRODUCTION.

FOR SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> BOILED WATER ADVISORY'S ARE IN EFFECT FOR RESIDENTS IN PART OF THIS AREA OF HOBOKEN AND JERSEY CITY.

IN HUDSON COUNTY, THE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AQUEDUCT THAT SUPPLIES WATER FOR BOTH CITIES.

OFFICIALS SAY EMERGENCY CREWS WORKED LATE INTO THE NIGHT, REPAIRING THAT WATER MAIN BUT THE ADVISORY REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

EMERGENCY TEAMS ARE MAKING FILTERED WATER AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT HOBOKEN AND JERSEY CITY.

YOU CAN CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR LOCATIONS.

MUCH OF THE FLOODING HAS SUBSIDED BUT SOME AREAS ARE STILL UNDER WATER.

NEARLY 7 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN HOBOKEN.

FLOODING IS NOT A NEW ISSUE THERE.

LOCAL LEADERS HAVE SPENT ROUGHLY A DECADE GETTING A RESILIENCY PLAN OFF THE GROUND TO PROTECT THE MILE SQUARE CITY FROM INCIDENTS LIKE HURRICANE IDA.

WHERE DOES IT STAND RIGHT NOW?

ONE CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> THE REALITY IS THE ABSENCE OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE WEATHER PATTERNS, IT IS A BUMPY ROAD AHEAD.

>> THERE IS THIS CONSENSUS FROM THOSE THAT SAY THEY WANT TO BUILD BACK BETTER BUT MOTHER NATURE IS AN INPATIENT FOR US.

TAKE MY BLOCK.

I LIVE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD IN JERSEY CITY.

THIS WAS MY BLOCK WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

A TORRENT OF WATER OVERWHELMING THE SEWER SYSTEM.

WELCOME TO MY WORLD, YOU MIGHT BE SAYING, BUT THEY HAD THIS SEWER PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

IT IS NOT SO RESILIENT.

>> I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1986.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

EVEN AN IMPROVED SEWER SYSTEM CANNOT HANDLE THAT VOLUME OF WATER.

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.

I MEAN, THIS IS TERRIBLE.

>> ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WAS GIVING STEPHEN PHILIP AN EARFUL.

>> THE RAINFALL WE HAD IN JERSEY CITY AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER STANDARDS AND SAID THIS IS LIKE A 200 YEAR STORM BUT YOU ARE SEEING 200 YEAR STORMS A VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY.

I DO NOT UP IT WAS OBSOLETE BECAUSE THE PIPES ARE BIGGER TO HANDLE MORE WATER BUT THE RUNOFF IS WHAT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM.

IT CAN HANDLE MORE WATER BUT THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE ARE GETTING THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE ARE GETTING IS PROBLEMATIC.

THE CATCH BASIN CANNOT DUMP IT INTO THE SEWERS FAST ENOUGH, ULTIMATELY.

>> THEY ARE MEETING WITH THE SEWER CONTRACTORS TO TALK ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CATCH BASINS, SO THEY CAN DEFEAT MORE STORM WATER INTO THE SEWERS.

IT IS WHAT HE SAYS IS ABOUT $1 BILLION OF PROJECTS AWAITING FEDERAL FUNDING.

IT IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS AFTER THE HOUSE VOTED THIS MONTH.

>> FOR THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INCREASED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE LIKE HURRICANES AND FLOODING AND STORM SURGES AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION, THEY KNOW THERE IS A VULNERABILITY.

SECOND IS ADAPTATION.

WE NEED TO SHARE PROACTIVE PREPAREDNESS, CREATING THAT RESILIENCY FOR THE CITY AND ENSURING THAT FLOODING IS AT A MINIMUM AND GENERATORS ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AND WE WANT TO AVOID LOSING POWER AND AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS.

THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE AND THINK ABOUT.

>> IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT A CITY LIKE HOBOKEN HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR DECADES BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF SANDY.

ONE COUNCILMAN, A LIFELONG RESIDENT, KNOWS IT WELL.

THE CITY RECEIVED MORE THAN $200 MILLION FOR A REBUILD BY DESIGN PROJECT TO GUARD AGAINST THOSE VERY THINGS.

BUT BABY STEPS RIGHT NOW, SAYS THE COUNCILMAN.

HE IS POINTING TO ONE VICTORY OF THIS EMPTY LOT THAT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK.

>> THIS WAS ONE PSEG SUBSTATION AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH WATER IN THE PAST AND WOULD HAVE LOST POWER.

HERE, WE HAVE NOT LOST ANY POWER AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE EVERYTHING STRONGER AT THIS LOCATION.

IT IS ABOUT 12 FEET HIGH.

THE GENERATOR IS ABOUT 23 HIGH, SO NO WATER IMPACTED IT WHATSOEVER.

>> Reporter: IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET, IF YOU PARDON THE EXPRESSION, AND THEY HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST BUILD MORE HIGHWAYS.

PERHAPS IDA'S SUDDEN, POWERFUL PUNCH WILL FOCUS ON THE REALITY THAT NATURE FEET ON WHAT WE GIVE IT.

THAT IS UNTIL IT SPITS IT BACK IN OUR FACES WITH DEADLY RESULTS.

>>> HELP'S ON THE WAY FOUR BUSINESSES HARD-HIT BY THE STORM.

WE HAVE IMPORTANT DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY.

>> Reporter: AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS NEXT WEEK ABOUT WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES CAN APPLY FOR THAT GRANT PROGRAM THEY WILL ANNOUNCE.

BUSINESSES WITH UP TO 50 EMPLOYEES WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN GRANTS OF $1000-$5000.

OTHER BUSINESSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

IN WOBURN, ONE PERSON EXPLAINED WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD DO RIGHT NOW AHEAD OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

>> IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE OR THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT WAS IMPACTED, TAKE PICTURES AND SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS AND KEEP DOCUMENTATION.

IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE YOU HAD A PROBLEM AND DAMAGE, THAT WILL MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND INSURANCE.

DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.

>> THEY WILL GET MONEY OUT TO BUSINESSES AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

>>> 235,000 NEW JOBS WERE ADDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COMPARED TO EXPECTATIONS FOR MORE THAN 700,000 JOBS.

THEY SAY THE DELTA VARIANT IS MAKING SOME EMPLOYERS RELUCTANT TO HIRE AND SOME EMPLOYEES FEARFUL OF RETURNING TO WORK.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT WORKING NATION EXPECTS TO SEE IMPROVEMENT HEADING INTO THE FALL, ESPECIALLY FOR FEMALE JOBSEEKERS.

>> SO MANY WOMEN HAVE BEEN IMPACTED DURING THIS RECESSION AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GO BACK TO FULL-TIME WORK OR EVEN LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

I THINK IF SCHOOLS REOPEN AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH COVID, WE SHOULD SEE A MUCH STRONGER SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

>> THEY ARE LAUNCHING ONE EVICTION PROGRAM.

IT CAME AS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SHARED DETAILS ON HOW MUCH MONEY IS PROVIDED FOR WRENCH WILL LEAP SO FAR.

THEY HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $232 MILLION TO NEARLY 26,000 HOUSEHOLDS.

FOR MORE, CHECK OUT MORE ON SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT THE STOCK TRADING AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

WE HAVE MORE OF YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> IN ISRAEL, A NUMBER OF RELIABLE COVID-19 STUDIES, THERE, AND BEING FULLY VACCINATED NOW MEANS HAVING THREE SHOTS.

A RECENT STUDY FROM THE ISRAELI HEALTH MINISTRY SHOWS COVID BOOSTER DOSES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

WITHIN 12 DAYS OF RECEIVING A THIRD SHOT, RECIPIENTS WERE 10 TIMES LESS LIKELY TO BECOME SEVERELY ILL AND 11 TIMES LESS LIKELY TO BECOME INFECTED COMPARED TO THOSE THAT RECEIVED THEIR SECOND DOSE ROUGHLY 5 MONTHS AGO.

NEW JERSEY IS PREPARING TO REOPEN VACCINE MEGA SITES TO HANDLE DEMAND WHEN PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTERS HERE.

ACROSS THE STATE, MORE THAN 5.6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED WITH MORE THAN 1600 NEW CONFIRMED CASES OF THE VIRUS AND 11 DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN BUT STILL ABOVE 1000 PATIENTS TODAY.

OFFICIALS ARE WATCHING CLOSELY AS WE HEAD INTO A HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

>> WE SAW THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA HIT AND MANY WERE RALLYING TO SUPPORT A POPULATION IN NEED.

DONATION DRIVES HELPED THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN EVACUEES TEMPORARY LIVING AT MILITARY BASE AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN SO MANY ITEMS THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE HITTING PAUSE.

CLOTHES, SHOES, AND TOYS ARE PILING UP AND GROUPS ARE LOOKING AHEAD, SEARCHING FOR HOUSING SO EVACUEES HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED FROM THE BASE.

ONE WRITER HAS THE LATEST.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A REAL OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT HERE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT DONATIONS SO FAR AND WHAT IS BEING RECEIVED?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF GENEROUS PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY WHO REALLY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM AFGHANISTAN, SO A LOT OF THE EFFORTS THAT STARTED LAST WEEK AND CONTINUED DURING THE WEEKEND -- WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DONATIONS OF TOYS FOR CHILDREN, CLOTHING, SHOES.

PEOPLE HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONATED SO MUCH THAT SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT A PAUSE ON THEIR EFFORTS UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO DELIVER OR PEOPLE FROM MILITARY BASE CAN PICK UP DONATIONS.

THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND HE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO DONATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THESE FOLKS.

>> GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW MUCH IS A LOT.

IF YOU HAVE TO HIT PAUSE ON IT -- WHAT IS NEEDED MOVING FORWARD?

>> I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW PEOPLE AND -- THEY COLLECTED FIVE TRUCKLOADS OF DONATIONS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO DELIVER TO THE BASE AND THEN IN SOUTHERN JERSEY, AROUND THIS AREA, NEAR THE BASE, THEY COLLECTED OVER 200,000 POUNDS OF DONATIONS.

SO THAT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO GET TO THE BASE.

THEY ARE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

>> BEYOND THE THESE DONATIONS, WHAT IS NEXT FOR THESE EVACUEES?

>> ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED OUT TO THE PUBLIC, THEY WILL NEED PLACES TO LIVE AND SOME ORGANIZATIONS WILL SETTLE THEM UP AND -- THEY WILL LOOK AT APARTMENTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE PEOPLE, SO THEY CAN SETTLE IN.

THEY WILL ALSO NEED FURNITURE IF THEY HAVE AN APARTMENT.

THOSE DONATIONS ARE GOING TO BE , YOU KNOW, NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER THAT IS MONETARY OR PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE FURNITURE THEY CAN DONATE -- WE WILL NEED THEM IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.

>> A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING CONSIDERING HOW MANY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY HURRICANE IDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU, ANYONE IN NEED OF HEALTH SHOULD GO TO THIS WEBSITE.

THEY LAUNCHED IT TODAY FOR STORM RESPONSE RESOURCES AND EFFORTS.

YOU CAN ALSO HAD TO RED CROSS.ORG IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SHELTER OR IF YOU WANT TO DONATE AND VOLUNTEER.

FOR NOW, AND THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS FRIDAY BEFORE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.