WBRZ - Baton Rouge

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is criticizing the federal government over its slow processing of flood insurance claims for Superstorm Sandy victims.

The Republican governor says he complained to President Obama over the weekend that "the performance of the national flood insurance program is unacceptable, that it's awful."

Christie says private insurers have been more responsive, settling more than 90 percent of claims. He also reports most of the debris left on land at the Jersey Shore after the October storm is gone.

Christie has been criticized for hiring a Florida debris removal firm without putting the $100 million contract to bid.

Last month, Obama signed a $9.7 billion bill to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program, which has received more than 100,000 Sandy claims.