Obama Declares New Jersey Major Disaster Area, Will View Flooding Sunday

President Barack Obama declared New Jersey a major disaster area Wednesday afternoon, and the White House announced that the president will travel to north Jersey on Sunday to get a firsthand look at the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.

The declaration will allow the federal government to award FEMA assistance to local residents, and state and municipal governments, according to officials with the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-08). 

The president will make an appearance in Paterson, according to Cong. Pascrell, who is a former mayor of Paterson, one of the city's hardest-hit by flooding.

At present, no details are available as to when the president will arive or where he will go.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate visited New York and New Jersey on Wednesday to review flood relief efforts.