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Congressman Chris Smith: FEMA OK’s 90% Reimbursements For Towns Hit By Superstorm Sandy

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, left, and Congressman Chris Smith, center, meet with their staff members in Smith's office on June 6, 2013

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, left, and Congressman Chris Smith, center, meet with their staff members in Smith’s office on June 6, 2013

FEMA will be reimbursing New Jersey towns impacted by Superstorm Sandy 90% of their cleanup and rebuilding costs, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ4) announced on Tuesday evening.

The approval will provide an immediate and additional $262 million for already obligated funding and it will cover all additional local government approved funding.  Funds will cover: Public Assistance Grant emergency work and permanent work including debris removal; emergency protective measures; road systems and bridges; water control facilities; buildings; contents and equipment; utilities, and; parks.

Smith met with FEMA highest official, Administrator Craig Fugate, on June 6 to press for the increase and discuss FEMA’s ongoing New Jersey flood recovery efforts. Fugate told Smith that he expected and would recommend moving to a 90-10 federal share for FEMA funding.

“This decision will greatly help New Jersey communities still dealing with significant damage issues as a result of tropical storm Sandy, while trying to figure out potential ratable losses. The move from a 75-25 percent federal-local cost share to a 90-10 split, which will be retroactive, will make the path forward a little more clear and help with municipal budget planning,” said Smith, “Being assured of a 90–10 percent split was necessary to continue our rebuilding process. The new cost share will greatly ease local decision-making and help planning future budgets.”

“With a number of vital issues still facing homeowners, businesses, and government agencies as we enter the first summer tourist season after Sandy, it is apparent we need a discernible path forward,” said Smith. “It has been five months since Congress approved $60-plus billion in federal funding for Superstorm Sandy relief with passage of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (H.R. 152) on January 28, 2013, and eight months since Sandy wreaked havoc along New Jersey’s coast.”

Smith took a lead role in obtaining federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. At the June meeting, Smith and Fugate also discussed FEMA’s advisory flood maps, homeowner flood insurance, pending legislative initiatives to ease future flood insurance burdens, and Smith’s House-passed legislation to provide needed assistance to houses of worship, which are now exempt from receiving federal aid.

 

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Posted: June 25th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: #STTS, Chris Smith, Congress, FEMA, Flood Maps, Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore, Stronger Than The Storm, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments »

4 Comments on “Congressman Chris Smith: FEMA OK’s 90% Reimbursements For Towns Hit By Superstorm Sandy”

  1. Now Congressman Smith said at 9:32 pm on June 25th, 2013:

    You need to work on a solution for Ocean Grove’s Boardwalk.

    Jim Granelli

  2. Mark F. said at 9:35 am on June 26th, 2013:

    There is no denying that congressman Smith truly represented us in fine fashion. I must commend the congressman for having our backs. Good Job, sir; ‘attaboy.

  3. Smith Secures Clean Up Help | The Save Jersey Blog said at 1:39 pm on June 26th, 2013:

    […] By Art Gallagher | MoreMonmouthMusings.com […]

  4. If only said at 10:17 pm on June 26th, 2013:

    we had more engaged, selfless public servants around to save our country.. We don’t. Thanks, Chris, for all you do,to help real people with genuine problems, in many areas, for all these years..