Assessing the Cost of Sandy

Post-Hurricane Sandy clean up could cost the township more than $1 million, said Township Administrator James White.

However, much of that cost could be covered by FEMA, with the township only putting money up front and then being reimbursed.

“The cost in terms of clean up and everything else, it may be over million, but I want residents to understand that this was a federally declared disaster, so FEMA and the Federal government is actually coming in and they’ve done a great job of opening their pocketbooks very wide. There is a 10 day period where 100 percent of certain costs will be reimbursed.”

Mayor Stahl told the council Monday that there is a small window of opportunity during which FEMA will reimbursement 100 percent of certain costs. After that, the percentage could be 70 percent FEMA, 25 percent township.

To cover up front costs, Mayor Stahl said the township would use money from its snow trust, kept in reserve to cover snow related emergencies. That money would be replaced once FEMA reimburses the township.

During his discussion with the Township Council Monday, Mayor Stahl commended the township employees, community organizations and residents for their hard work and efforts to pull together during a difficult time. Township employees have been work working day and night since the storm on township clean up; small businesses, such as volunteered to remove trees and branches; local churches—St. Mary’s Orthodox Coptic Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church—opened their doors to serve as shelters; and the East Brunswick School District offered bus drivers to transport people who were evacuated on the night of the storm, and allowed Hammarskjold Middle School, the East Brunswick High School and the Chittick School to be used as shelters and comfort stations.

In addition, the East Brunswick Hilton served as a place for township workers and utility crews to stay in between shifts, even though the hotel had no power, and restaurants, Vinnie’s Pizza, Carrabbas, Olive Garden and Panera’s Bread, as well as the Spotswood Shop Rite also made their selves available.

“I’d like to thank the residents of East Brunswick for being so supportive of each other through the two week ordeal,” said Mayor Stahl. “Some of us lost power for an extended period of time, some had it and some lost it. Some families have medical needs and some have special needs at home and everyone worked, somehow, all worked together to make sure each of us was safe.”

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