Hurricane Sandy

$15 Million in Aid Grants for Shore Communities

The funding will be used to pay back portions of expenditures incurred as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded more than $15 million in federal Public Assistance grants for shore communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy in a latest round of funding, according to a release from Gov. Chris Christie's office. The aid will be used to reimburse municipalities and counties for costs incurred in the aftermath of the late-October storm, whether that be for rescue efforts, cleanup, or reconstruction. The more than $15 million in grant funding has been awarded to Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Monmouth County, Middlesex County, and Woodbridge Township.  Monmouth County will receive federal funding to reimburse the Sheriff's Department, which supplied security at shelters following Sandy and performed…

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Woodbridge Receives Over $1.7M in Federal Sandy Funding

U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced on Tuesday that Woodbridge would receive $1,734,561.

Slightly over $1.7 million in federal funding is coming to Woodbridge to reimburse the township for the massive debris clean-up following Superstorm Sandy, according to New Jersey's U.S. Senators. The money alotted to Woodbridge is part of $9.4 million in federal funding being distributed through FEMA's Public Assistance program throughout New Jersey, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced Tuesday. The $1,734,561 will reimburse the Township of Woodbridge 75 percent of what they initially charged the budget for debris removal following Sandy. "We're pleased we are receving 75 percent," Mayor John E. McCormac said. "That was our biggest expense from Superstorm Sandy." The funding announced on Tuesday is solely for the …

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Gov's Plan Will Keep Flood Areas at Risk

Gov. Chris Christie's Action Plan on storm and flood prevention has "no standards, transparency, or accountability," says the Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club

Hurricane Sandy Leaves State With $2.6B Tab for Water Infrastructure

Superstorm reveals vulnerabilities in drinking water facilities, sewer treatment plants.

Hurricane Sandy damaged more than 100 facilities supplying drinking water to residents and sewage treatment plants, leaving the state with an unexpected $2.6 billion bill to repair, rebuild, and make the systems more resilient, according to state officials. How the state goes about meeting that challenge remains to be seen, although the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is hoping to leverage federal funds approved by Congress in the wake of Sandy to help address those problems. Making those systems more resilient to future storms is among the agency’s top priorities, one the department is expected to wrestle with over the next few months, but with few clear answers emerging just yet. “Our challenges are staggering,’’ …

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Flood Zone Group to Meet Monday

The Woodbridge Flood Zone group - homeowners seeking solutions to flooding problems - will be meeting Monday at the First Presbyterian Church. Everyone is welcome.

Sharing Lessons From Sandy Could Mean Healthier Recovery Next Time Around

Health commissioner's roundtables gets first responders, local and state officials talking.

Add deadly carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly vented generators and toxic mold to the many health hazards visited on the state by Hurricane Sandy. That helps explain why healthcare providers from New Jersey's first responders to the state’s top health official are looking to identify and apply lessons learned to head off similar crises during the next bout of extreme weather. Sandy will have a lasting effect on how the state prepares for the future, Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd said yesterday after completing a round of forums with healthcare officials and emergency responders. One major change: The state will take steps in future disasters to make sure that residents are informed on how to operate electric generators before a…

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Hurricane Sandy

Flood Maps Could Change for Mainland Communities

During a Friday conference call discussing the National Flood Insurance Program, talk shifted to FEMA's flood maps and the potential for change in New Jersey.

The impetus behind releasing its advisory flood maps soon after Hurricane Sandy was simply to aid in the state's disaster recovery, a Federal Emergency Management Agency risk analyst said Friday, noting that they still remain subject to change prior to their official adoption into the National Flood Insurance Program. Discussion about the NFIP as well as the Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps was made during a FEMA conference call late Friday morning and seemed to conflict with Gov. Chris Christie's hurried effort to see the maps adopted as New Jersey's new standard.  Doug Bellomo, director of FEMA's Risk Analysis Division, said the agency used the best available scientific data to develop the maps, and while he's confident that they're …

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Hurricane Sandy

Flood Zone Group to Meet with Mayor

Victims of Hurricane Sandy flooding are having an open meeting tonight

The Woodbridge Flood Zone group, which has caused a stir with a march and presence at last week's council meeting, will be holding a meeting tonight at the First Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge. Mayor John McCormac and members of the town council are slated to attend. The meeting will begin with a planning session at 7:30 pm, followed by the regular meeting at 8 pm. The community group is comprised of township residents affected by Hurricane Sandy and other flooding events, and who are ready to do work towards real change. Township residents who have experienced flooding issues are welcome to attend the meeting. Follow Woodbridge Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.

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Mike Coyne a.k.a. "The Lawn Ranger" a.k.a."TheSlyFoxHunter"

6:52 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

We don't want to exclude anybody, I just made it clear that our meeting wouldn't be used a a political platform for anybody or anything else but our collective problems. Anybody should be welcome to sit and listen as we really need all the support we can get. I for one will try and treat everyone the way I would like to be treated, with respect. I was sorry to see anyone leave. I thought I made …   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

Woodbridge Flooding Victims Express Frustration, Muted Hope After March

Members of the Woodbridge Flood Zone group gave eloquent - and painful - testimony about their Sandy devastated homes at the town council meeting.

Residents of Woodbridge's flood-prone areas were polite, but the patience was becoming threadbare. That was the sentiment at Tuesday's council meeting from the dozens of homeowners who marched down Main Street to Town Hall to keep the pressure on after years of having their flood-battered homes ignored. Most are members of the ad hoc Woodbridge Flood Zone - a group begun by Monique Coleman, who expanded their efforts into a meeting and a frequently updated website - own some of the more than 600 homes in the township that experienced moderate or severe devastation from Hurricane Sandy. The township administration was prepared for the marchers. Mayor John McCormac gave a speech to update residents on progress being made to get the …

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floodvictim2

5:28 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

First of all Mr. M aras we really do not need your help. I sat near you at the Council meeting last week and you were alseep at your chair for most of it. When you got up you were disrespectful to the Council President. Nobody else in our group was. Mr Coyne was respectful and presentable and you were not. You actually appeared to be inebriated and you were slurring your words. You will notice …   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

TELL US: Hope for Woodbridge? Gov Wants Sandy Home Buyouts in Middlesex County

Gov. Chris Christie wants to use millions in federal Sandy bailout money to buy flood-prone homes in Middlesex County - including Woodbridge.

Gov. Chris Christie wants to spend $250 million of federal money to buy out homes that are subject to perpetual flooding. But he doesn't want to do the buy outs in shore communities. The governor said he wants to direct that money to buy flood-prone homes in Middlesex County, according to a report on northjersey.com. The county has flooding issues with communites located along the Raritan River, Raritan Bay, and the Arthur Kill. Perth Amboy, Old Bridge, and Sayreville were all hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. But Woodbridge's flood problem has been historically ignored, even though 606 homes experienced damage from the hurricane - 116 with minor damage, 449 with major damage, and 44 homes where the storm damage was labeled as 'severe'. The …

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