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Hometown News
Star-studded crews film Sandy fix-ups in Ventnor
Saturday, May 18, 2013 12:00 am
VENTNOR — Richard Battaglia worked for months to slowly make repairs to his Wissahickon Avenue home, which was damaged during Hurricane Sandy.
New Jersey to use federal funds to buy homes that are flood prone
Friday, May 17, 2013 12:30 am
New Jersey will use $300 million in federal aid to buy out about 1,300 Hurricane Sandy-damaged and flood-prone homes in the state.
Christie announces buy-out program for storm-damaged houses
Thursday, May 16, 2013 2:49 pm
New Jersey will use $300 million in federal aid to buy out about 1,300 Hurricane Sandy-damaged and flood-prone homes in the state.
Gov. Chris Christie said in a news release that the state initially will target houses that have flooded repeatedly, focusing first on about 350 homes along the Delaware Bay in Lawrence Township, Cumberland County and in two Middlesex County towns. The program will target another 300 homes in the frequently flooded Passaic River basin.
“There comes a moment when you just know when Mother Nature is getting the best of you,” Christie said during a town hall meeting Thursday in Sayreville. “We’re putting a pretty quick timeline on this, a very quick timeline for government.”
None of the buyouts will be forced. Homeowners must agree to sell. The program could expand later if there is the demand, Christie said.
The state will operate the buyout program, which would vastly expand the existing Blue Acres program, with offers first coming in July and the first closings expected by Labor Day. The rest of the closings should be complete within one year.
The buyout program will focus on clusters of houses or entire neighborhoods that suffered storm damaged, with the buildings purchased by the state to eventually be demolished and the land turned into open space to absorb future flooding, state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said in a news release.
“It is up to these communities to make the tough decisions on whether to sell or rebuild,” Martin said in the release. “We understand this is a very personal and difficult decision to make for people who were decimated by Sandy and may have also suffered damage in previous storms, but who still love where they live.”
DEP has created a buyout team to process applications and finalize paperwork quickly, with staff reassigned from other areas of the department to work as case managers and work on the street, said DEP spokesman Larry Hajna. Martin and Christie pledged to make the process as easy and as quick as possible for homeowners.
Previous buyouts in the Blue Acres program have taken “anywhere from a year to two years,” Hajna said. “But we’re definitely working to make this a much quicker process.”
By the end of May, case managers will begin contacting homeowners who have expressed interest in buyouts. Some towns have given lists of interested homeowners to the state, and some homeowners have contacted the Blue Acres Program during the past few months, Hajna said.
In addition to heavy interest in places such as Sayreville and South River, Hajna said the department has received calls from homeowners in Toms River, Brick Township, Little Egg Harbor Township and the Gandy’s Beach section of Downe Township.
Established in 1995, the Blue Acres Program has purchased more than 198 properties for a total cost of $28.7 million, with most of those properties in the Raritan and Passaic River basins, according to DEP statistics. Those areas are home to more than $200 million in repeated flood losses, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency statistics.
New Jersey now ranks third in the amount of National Flood Insurance Program payouts and is fourth in the nation for flood insurance payments for repeatedly flooded properties, according to FEMA statistics.
New York has pledged to use $171 million from its first round of Community Development Block Grant disaster aid to pay for buyouts in that state. New Jersey’s money will come through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and also could come from the CDBG program, Hajna said.
Properties that have suffered storm damage, have been repeatedly flooded or that could act as a land buffer from future flooding are eligible. Property appraisals will begin in June. Homeowners interested in selling homes may contact the Blue Acres Program at 609-984-0500.
Contact Sarah Watson:
609-272-7216
SWatson@pressofac.com
Follow her on Twitter @acpresssarah
South Jersey crabbers fishing old pots out of Great Bay
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:10 am
Braving icy winds, choppy waters and frigid winter temperature, six teams of commercial crabbers have combed the muddy bottom of Great Bay the past few months in search of, well ... trash.
New Jersey legislation would create state coastal commission
Monday, May 13, 2013 6:16 pm
A controversial state Assembly bill that could radically change how planning and zoning occurs in coastal towns has advanced out of committee, along with another bill that would require storm-damaged properties to undergo an environmental review before rebuilding.
Jersey Shore towns tell visitors 'we are open' for summer
Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:15 am
Groomed beaches, walkable boardwalks, sand-free streets and sidewalks, and open stores and restaurants.
Belmar oceanfront appears back to business as it was before Sandy
Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:01 am
When surfshop Eastern Lines reopened in Belmar on a mid-April weekend, Don Tarrant's customers had an obstacle to clear to reach his Ocean Avenue store - the road was still closed to traffic.
Seaside Heights' storm damage has become its own attraction
Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:01 am
Seaside Heights is a place of Jersey Shore lore, which includes MTV making a mockery of summer shore life on "Jersey Shore."
Atlantic City, Maurice River get grants for environmental cleanups
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 8:07 pm
Atlantic City and Maurice River Township will receive a portion of nearly $3.8 million in grants through the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up contaminated land.
New elevation standards for rebuilding flooded homes now law in New Jersey
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 8:57 pm
Strict new standards for rebuilding houses damaged during Hurricane Sandy are now state law.
South Jersey groups take rein as FEMA leaves New Jersey
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 12:01 am
A major transition is under way in the recovery effort for those rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy.
Atlantic City awarded grant for flood gates
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 2:08 am
Atlantic City has been awarded a $1.13 million grant to build Atlantis Avenue Flood Gates, which are part of the Baltic Avenue Canal.
Deadline for FEMA aid in New Jersey looming
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 1:29 am
Homeowners and renters who suffered losses from Hurricane Sandy have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Federal disaster recovery funds to begin pouring into New Jersey
Monday, April 29, 2013 11:45 pm
HIGHLANDS — Millions of dollars in federal aid for those rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy will begin flowing into New Jersey this week as Gov. Chris Christie and U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced federal approval of a $1.83 billion recovery plan.
Christie expected to announce start of federal and state aid for Hurricane Sandy rebuilding today
Monday, April 29, 2013 8:41 am
Federal and state leaders are expected to announce the start of the state’s plan to spend a $1.8 billion in federal aid for people rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy today.
Atlantic City’s poor have few funds for replacements after Sandy
Saturday, April 27, 2013 12:04 am
Up until 10 days ago, Eliberta Cortez’s four daughters slept on the floor of their Fairmount Avenue rowhouse bedroom. Now, the girls share a single bed.
Sandy recovery bills bypass zoning, access rules in New Jersey
Friday, April 26, 2013 1:01 am
TRENTON — Towns would have to let homeowners raise their homes to heights dictated by new flood insurance rules but wouldn’t have to provide better beach access in return for federal beach replenishment aid under bills that advanced Thursday in the state Legislature.
Senate subcommittee advances legislation easing shore rebuilding requirements, without provision for beach access
Thursday, April 25, 2013 10:45 am
TRENTON — Towns would have to let homeowners raise their homes to heights dictated by new flood insurance rules but wouldn’t have to provide better beach access in return for federal beach replenishment aid under bills that advanced Thursday in the state Legislature.
How construction affects storm surge
Monday, April 22, 2013 5:35 pm
Multiple factors can increase the risk that a storm surge could have a stronger impact on some sections of the bay while others are left relatively unscathed, said Thomas Herrington, a coastal engineering professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.
Stricter building standards will change the bayfront after Sandy
Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:27 pm
Oceanfront homes cost a lot to build in New Jersey, and there’s a reason for that.
Archived
Shore towns must prepare for even higher seas
Thursday, April 18, 2013 12:00 am
Chip McLenna has noticed gradual changes over the years in Margate, with the bay seeming to be higher and tidal flooding occurring more often.
Archived
New rules aim to speed shore rebuilding after Sandy
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 8:11 pm
More than a dozen types of construction or renovation activities in coastal areas will no longer need to undergo a complex permit review process under a lengthy emergency order filed by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Archived
Communities urged to adopt stricter flood rules
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 10:49 pm
TUCKERTON — Communities are being urged to adopt tougher flood standards than those proposed by the federal government and to recognize what the potential liabilities are from approving development in high-risk areas.
Archived
460,000 Sandy claims are settled
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 8:46 pm
HAMMONTON— More than 460,000 insurance claims have been settled in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy, with about 32,000 claims still open.
Archived
LoBiondo proposes phasing in flood insurance hikes
Monday, April 15, 2013 10:39 am
In an effort “to ease the burden of impact,” U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2, Monday introduced legislation to double the time it will take to phase in expected annual rate increases for some flood insurance policy holders across the country, including those in New Jersey.
Archived
Going home still just a dream for many six months after Hurricane Sandy
Sunday, April 14, 2013 2:30 am
As the sun rose the morning after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, Kelly Domitrowsky got her first glimpse of the destructive power of 18 inches of water.
Archived
Deadline for FEMA aid applications is May 1
Sunday, April 14, 2013 12:23 am
The deadline for homeowners and renters to apply for disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency is May 1. Representatives for other federal aid programs warn that those who don’t apply could miss out on future grants and loans.
Archived
Few small businesses apply for aid after Sandy damage
Sunday, April 14, 2013 12:20 am
Small-business owners who suffered damage or have lost customers due to Hurricane Sandy are eligible for disaster aid loans, but numbers released through the U.S. Small Business Administration show that few businesses are filing for help.
Archived
DEP chief says revisions likely in FEMA's V-zones on new flood maps
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 6:15 pm
Coastal residents still struggling with how to rebuild their storm-damaged homes may want to postpone their decisions until later this summer, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to release updated flood-elevation maps.
Archived
Aid groups seeking homeowners in need after Sandy
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:00 am
Nonprofit groups, aided by hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money from corporate donations and other groups, are ready to help struggling lower-income homeowners repair damage from Hurricane Sandy.
Archived
Gov. Christie announces final extension of FEMA shelter-assistance program for those displaced by Sandy
Thursday, April 4, 2013 7:23 pm
Residents still displaced from Hurricane Sandy and staying in hotels throughout the state will be able to stay for several more weeks.
Archived
Community and religious groups ask federal housing officials to consider changing New Jersey's plan to distribute Sandy relief funds
Thursday, April 4, 2013 7:14 pm
Nearly 80 community groups and religious organizations are asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to consider changing how New Jersey will spend $1.8 billion in federal Sandy aid.
Archived
Habitat for Humanity to help Ventnor homeowners repair Sandy damage
Monday, April 1, 2013 5:12 pm
Ventnor homeowners who need help with rebuilding from damage suffered during Hurricane Sandy can apply for labor assistance through a Habitat for Humanity of Atlantic County building project next month.
Archived
New Jersey asks HUD to fast-track approval of its $183B relief spending plan
Saturday, March 30, 2013 12:00 am
New Jersey’s proposal for how it will spend $1.83 billion in federal disaster aid has been submitted to the federal government, with state officials urging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fast-track approval so residents can begin applying for grants.
Archived
Deadline to apply for Sandy-related FEMA assistance extended to May 1
Friday, March 29, 2013 5:08 pm
The deadline for New Jersey residents affected by Hurricane Sandy to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been extended to May 1.
Archived
Christie’s flood map order one step closer to becoming state law
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 1:22 pm
A state emergency order that set higher elevations for many homes along the shore as the new rebuilding standards in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is a step closer to becoming permanent regulation.
Archived
Deadline for homeowners to register with FEMA for Hurricane Sandy aid is April 1
Monday, March 25, 2013 8:25 pm
Monday is the last day for residents affected by Hurricane Sandy to register for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Archived
Appeals court upholds New Jersey's environmental waiver rule
Thursday, March 21, 2013 3:23 pm
A state appeals court has upheld a sweeping rule that allows the Department of Environmental Protection to waive many of its rules if requested.
Archived
Don't expect spring temperatures with start of spring Wednesday
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 8:07 pm
Spring officially arrives today at sunrise, but don’t expect the weather to seem like spring for possibly two more weeks.
Archived
Sand delivery restores beach where horseshoe crabs lay their eggs
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 12:10 am
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — A line of cellphone cameras and digital camcorders greeted the first few dump trucks to deliver piles of sand Monday morning to a narrow and eroded stretch of Kimballs Beach on the Delaware Bay.
Archived
New Jersey lawmakers tackle Sandy recovery, coastal issues
Sunday, March 17, 2013 12:00 am
Legislators from across New Jersey have introduced dozens of bills aimed at helping residents affected by Hurricane Sandy as well as making changes to how the state rebuilds and manages coastal areas.
Archived
State police investigating nearly two dozen crashes on the Garden State Parkway in Lacey Township; one dead
Saturday, March 16, 2013 7:13 pm
Icy conditions contributed to nearly two dozen crashes Saturday afternoon along a 10-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway in Lacey Township, killing one man and causing lengthy traffic delays.
Archived
Three from Maine charged with poaching baby eels from Absecon Creek
Friday, March 15, 2013 5:36 pm
Three men from Maine have been arrested and charged with poaching more than 24,000 baby eels out of Absecon Creek, the Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement.
Archived
Flood-mapping tool provides a worrisome glimpse of Jersey Shore's future, based on sea-level projections
Thursday, March 14, 2013 8:53 pm
Water laps at the pavement at Albany and West End avenues in Atlantic City at high tide, even when there isn’t a strong wind coming off the ocean.
Archived
State: First round of $1.8 billion Sandy aid will help low- and moderate-income homeowners rebuild
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 3:00 am
New Jersey will focus on helping low- to moderate-income residents affected by Hurricane Sandy when spending its first round of federal storm aid, according to a state plan released for public comment Tuesday.
Archived
Shore flooding less than forecast; more expected
Thursday, March 7, 2013 8:28 pm
Shifting winds helped keep coastal flooding below National Weather Service predictions early Thursday, but the same potent storm that is slowly moving off New England is expected to drive the water up again early today, possibly to a level that covers many low-lying roads.
Archived
Atlantic City crews assessing flood damage to homes; water level not as bad as predicted
Thursday, March 7, 2013 9:00 am
Southern New Jersey residents are assessing the damage from overnight coastal flooding and continued strong winds from a northeaster that has gradually moved up the coast.
Archived
Flooding, erosion to continue today; more than 3,000 without power
Thursday, March 7, 2013 5:45 am
Powerful winds from a potent northeaster have downed power lines, damaged buildings and whipped coastal waters to potentially result in one of the 10 highest tides on record in Atlantic City and Cape May.
Archived
Coastal flooding, precipitation mix expected today and Thursday
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 1:45 am
Tidal flooding is likely and forecasters say the chance for snow is becoming more certain as a strong coastal storm is expected to begin affecting the region by early Wednesday.
Archived
Residents can address state Thursday over new building heights created by emergency rule
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 8:28 pm
Shore residents will have the opportunity to speak to the state for the first time about the emergency order determining new building heights following Hurricane Sandy, but don’t expect those words to mean much.
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