Politics & Government

FEMA to Reimburse East Brunswick $1.1 Million for Sandy Efforts

The township will receive a $1.1 million reimbursement in federal money for the emergency response efforts and cleanup of Hurricane Sandy.

East Brunswick will be reimbursed $1.1 million from FEMA to make up for money spent during the township's Hurricane Sandy response.

According to a joint press release from the offices of Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) East Brunswick will receive $1,149,493.59 "for the cost of debris cleanup" as a result of the storm.

The East Brunswick grant is part of a total of $9.2 million in Sandy-related funds that is being split between three municipalities and one agency: East Brunswick, Eagleswood Township, Toms River and the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs.

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East Brunswick has submitted five applications for FEMA reimbursement following Hurricane Sandy, said Lou Neely, Chief Financial Officer for East Brunswick.

An application was approved in December 2012 for $161,000, and more recently, the township submitted an application at the end of March for $1,219,000, Neely said.

Find out what's happening in East Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The township has not yet received official word of the approval of that application, Neely said, but the announcement of the $1.1 million may be in relation to that application.

"Federal reimbursement under this program is available to state and local governments for debris cleanup and essential repairs to public infrastructure, as well as for a variety of protective measures, including conducting search and rescue operations, providing security forces such as police and guards, providing shelter or emergency care, sandbagging, securing damaged buildings and homes, providing essential needs like food and water, carrying out emergency repairs and demolitions, and removing health and safety hazards," the release said.

East Brunswick spent $1.6 million on police and emergency management as well as equipment rental and debris cleanup for Hurricane Sandy, Neely said.


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