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Hurricane Sandy Survivors Will Have Temporary Housing At Fort Monmouth

MMM has learned that FEMA and Department of Community Affairs housing inspectors have given “high marks” to buildings at the former Fort Monmouth for potential use as long term temporary housing for Monmouth County residents displaced by Superstorm Sandy.

In an email to board members of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) forwarded to MMM by Freeholder Lillian Burry, a member of the board, Executive Director Bruce Steadman said that FEMA and DCA is working on a plan to use 7 lodging buildings in along the Shrewsbury River in Oceanport to house 600-900 people in 300 units, as well as 21 “McGill” units at the golf course which could house 42 families.  These units could be used as temporary housing for up to 18 months, according to FEMA guidelines.

Gibbs Hall, the commissary building, the gymnasium and the prep school have been deemed not suitable for housing.

Steadman told the board that FMERA has informed the Army that they want to expedite the purchase of the Howard Commons area, the historical housing area of the main post, and the golf course, to support post-Sandy housing needs.

Burry said that there could be up to 10,000 residents of Monmouth County in need of temporary housing as a result of the damage caused by Sandy.  Union Beach, Highlands, Sea Bright and the low lying areas of Middletown…Belford, Leonardo, Port Monmouth and North Middletown…were struck with storm surges that exceeded 8 feet, leaving homes in the wake uninhabitable.  Additionally, the Two River towns of Little Silver and Oceanport have several displaced residents due to flooded homes, according to Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.

In addition to the former Fort Monmouth, federal, state and county officials are evaluating the Bradlee’s parking lot on Route 36 in Hazlet, the former Bell Labs property in Holmdel, and the Hartshorne Woods County Park in Highlands/Navesink as possible sites for FEMA trailer cities.

O’Scanlon said that he is impressed and grateful for the level of cooperation between the various government agencies working on evaluating the former Fort Monmouth for temporary housing.

“I am very  encouraged to know everyone is working together to assess the resources at  Fort Monmouth that might be able  to help us house our displaced residents,” said O’Scanlon,  “We will continue to push for  quick answers but the level of cooperation amongst the agencies involved is  encouraging. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are taking all the right steps to vet out this option. The Monmouth County  Prosecutor, Christopher J. Gramiccioni, has also been a key part of this  process and I appreciate his active involvement. On behalf of my constituents, I am grateful for the effort.”

 

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Posted: November 9th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, Emergency Management, FEMA, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Lillian Burry | Tags: , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

5 Comments on “Hurricane Sandy Survivors Will Have Temporary Housing At Fort Monmouth”

  1. Who's gonna pay said at 10:50 pm on November 9th, 2012:

    for the renovations,to get these long-abandoned dwellings habitable and up to code? Hopefully not the county! Hoping it falls under FEMA and fed. funding, we alone cannot afford to foot that bill.

  2. That's funny said at 12:03 am on November 10th, 2012:

    FEMA should pay cause we can’t afford the bill? Who do you think is funding FEMA? They just pick their money from the trees??

  3. This county said at 12:24 pm on November 10th, 2012:

    Has already spent over 5 million dollars in equipment and supplies to help its residents. If we have to front the money alone to rehab these dwellings, just do not bitch when the County taxes go up , is all I am saying. We are still waiting for FEMA reimbursement from Irene. So, if we add all this, you will see a devastating effect at the county level, and just don’t complain when it happens. The freeholders, sheriff, emergency management, and many others have done a remarkable job in trying to help people recover, I this unprecedented disaster.

  4. Someone once said... said at 12:36 pm on November 10th, 2012:

    If it’s the on-base housing I’m thinking of, they are pretty nice places and have been renovated in the past few years. I don’t think too much work would have to be done to them since they were lived in up to sometime last year probably.

  5. Bob English said at 5:27 pm on November 11th, 2012:

    Maybe stating the obvious but as “someone once said”, there is housing on the base that was used up until a year ago and should not need major renovations to serve a s temporary housing for some.

    The Howard Commons part of the property is unliveable and has not been ocuppied in many years. That will be sold to a developer who will be responsible for the demolition of the houses now on the land.