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

• Photos (1)

Stop FEMA Now's Growing Influence

The grassroots organization has its sights set on national attention.

From its humble beginnings - a few concerned residents sitting around a table in a small sub shop in Toms River - Stop FEMA Now, the grassroots organization opposed to the federal agency’s flood maps, has grown and continues to attract crowds at meetings throughout the state. Now it’s time for the second phase. Prior to a meeting in Atlantic City to discuss flood maps with residents of yet another county, Stop FEMA Now founder George Kasimos said the causes continues to grow. More and more residents continue to discover that their homes are now listed in FEMA’s flood zones, he said, and now they’re looking for answers. And ultimately, they’re looking for a way to fight back. The group’s Facebook page has grown from just a few hundred likes…

• Photos (1)

FEMA to Inspect East Brunswick Properties

FEMA will gather information on flood-prone properties in the township.

The East Brunswick Police Department has announced that teams from FEMA will be in East Brunswick through April 19 for the purpose of inspecting flood-prone properties. The police department issued the following message via Nixle: Properties within the Township, currently or at some point in the past, were insured by the National Flood Insurance Program for damage from flooding. Flood Insurance is underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program, (NFIP), which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA). FEMA has identified structures within these communities that have sustained repetitive flooding and have received claims payments on at least two occasions. The NFIP allows occupants and owners with property …

• Photos (1)

Input Your Address To Find FEMA Base Flood Elevation

FEMA releases search engine allowing residents to learn more about base flood elevation

New "Advisory Base Flood Elevations" are now posted to this interactive map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which the agency says should provide a post-Hurricane Sandy picture of flood risk as residents rebuild. Residents can input an address and see what the advisory base flood elevation is specific to that location, as FEMA updates its site. The interactive map aims to equip residents "with more precise information about the flood risk they face, allowing them to make more informed decisions to reduce their personal risk to life and property," announced FEMA in a recent statement. With a storm surge and continued flooding along waterfront areas after Hurricane Sandy, the advisory base flood elevation hopes to answer …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Congress Approves $9.7 Billion in Insurance Funding to Aid Sandy Victims

The U.S. House of Representatives approved funding for the National Flood Insurance Program.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure late Friday afternoon allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to borrow $9.7 billion to pay insurance claims made by victims of Hurricane Sandy. The bill, HR 41, temporarily increases the borrowing authority of FEMA to allow the agency to carry out payment claims made by property owners to the National Flood Insurance Program.     Congress moved to approve the funding stop-gap Friday after concerns were raised that aid for Sandy victims had been delayed too long. The House, specifically, Majority Speaker John Boehner, R-OH, came under fire for tabling a Sandy aid package until after the New Year.   Congress is expected to vote on two additional bills authorizing more than…

• Photos (1)

Brick Barrier Island Residents May Gain More Access Soon

Mayor says he's just waiting for state approval

Brick hopes to allow its barrier island residents and property owners to be able to drive to their properties in their own vehicles "soon," but the township needs state approval first.     "We hope it will be soon, we hope it's within days," said Mayor Stephen Acropolis, on a bus tour Thursday of many of the township's Sandy-ravaged waterfront and low-lying sections. "We're just waiting for some construction work to be cleared, for Route 35 to be opened and for approval from the state Department of Transportation." On Thursday morning, Acropolis, Police Chief Nils Bergquist, other police officers and the National Guard traveled by police-escorted bus with a limited number of media to tour the township's barrier island and other damaged …

• Photos (14)

Information for Businesses Hit by Sandy

Conference call with state, federal officials on Thursday

Small business owners who were impacted by Sandy need to be on a conference call at 2 p.m. Thursday with state and federal officials, says the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority and New Jersey Business Action Center senior officials will be on the conference call on the federal and state government's efforts to help small businesses and homeowners recover from Hurricane Sandy.  "Officials will provide updates and answer questions about assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to provide all available …

• Photos (1)

Hurricane Sandy

UPDATED: FEMA Center Doesn't Open

A FEMA Center was supposed to open this morning on Dunhams Corner Road. However, it did not.

The opening of a FEMA/State Disaster Recover Center at the East Brunswick Division of Recreation and Parks Maintenance Facility on Dunhams Corner Road was delayed, the township announced.  The center was supposed to be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week until further notice. The; announcement did not say why it was delayed or when or if it would open. In the meantime, a mobile FEMA center is open at the Sayreville Senior Center, 423 Main Street, Sayreville. Once there, visitors can: • Receive information about different types of state and federal disaster assistance. • Get help completing applications for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private …

• Photos (1)

All State Residents Can Now Apply for Individual FEMA Assistance

Relief available for temporary housing, repairs, loans, etc.

Individuals in every New Jersey county are now eligible to apply for federal disaster relief, the governor's office announced Tuesday. All residents and businesses can now apply for Individual Assistance through FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The state had already been approved for Public Assistance, which is available to state and local governments as well as nonprofits. Individual Assistance relief allows residents to apply for aid including temporary housing, repair, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Small Business Administration loans. The governor's office advises all residents who suffered damage to apply with FEMA, even if they have their own insurance. Register by calling 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 for those with …

•  75 Comments
• Photos (1)

Hurricane Sandy

FEMA: Sandy Will Bring Up to 8 Inches of Rain

Heavy wind and large amounts of rainfall will wreak havoc all along the east coast early next week, FEMA officials said.

As Hurricane Sandy travels toward the East Coast, New Jersey residents should brace for a slow deterioration of the weather well before landfall early next week, according to officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Extra damage from Sandy is expected, because the hurricane is expected to lose speed by the time it makes landfall. This will extend the period of heavy wind and rainfall, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb. Sandy is expected to bring between five and eight inches of rain to the affected area, said NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Director Dr. Louis Uccellini. Between 50 and 60 million people will be impacted by Sandy well into next week. "It's difficult to …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)