Congressman Smith announces FEMA webinar for non-profit security grants

FEMA is holding webinars on January 22, 30 and February 4 to inform faith-based, community and non-profit organizations information regarding grants available for security enhancement, Congressman Chris Smith announced.

“I encourage groups to participate in one of the webinars to learn about a FEMA grant program to improve security,” Smith said. “Faith communities and other non-profits have been targets of hate and violence, and this grant is available to address issues of prevention of and preparation for potential threats.

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Congressman Smith Tours Storm Damage In CD-4

Congressman Chris Smith toured storm damage sites in Wall Township and Howell Township yesterday afternoon to prepare his appeal to the Trump Administration for federal assistance in the recovery, if Governor Phil Murphy asks the President for FEMA’s assistance, as expected.

Smith said his letter to President Trump is already written and that he is prepared to work for federal reimbursement as soon as Governor Murphy makes the request.  The knowledge he gained on yesterday’s tour will help him make his case to Trump Administration officials and FEMA when he meets with them to appeal for federal funds.

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Good news for Sandy victims: House limits FEMA ability to demand disaster repayments

WASHINGTON — U.S. House legislation to help victims of the most recent hurricanes also would help some of those who suffered losses under Hurricane Sandy. The hurricane relief bill, which awaits Senate passage, would limit to three years the time the Federal Emergency Management Agency can demand repayments from disaster victims. Thousands of letters have been… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. lawmaker fuming after Sandy whistleblower told to leave FEMA contractor alone

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for the contractor helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency review Hurricane Sandy damage claims has demanded that a whistleblower and a law firm stop contacting its employees to bolster allegations that storm victims were shortchanged. The letter from Optimal Solutions and Technologies referenced Jeff Coolidge, a whistleblower who worked for a company… Read the rest of this entry »

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FEMA failed to properly oversee Sandy flood insurers, audit says

WASHINGTON — A government watchdog found that Federal Emergency Management Agency did not properly regulate the private companies who provide flood insurance, whose failure to adequate reimburse Hurricane Sandy victims for their losses led to the agency agreeing to reopen thousands of claims. The report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general said FEMA did… Read the rest of this entry »

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Spring Lake says Sandy audit is wrong, ‘we spent the money wisely’

SPRING LAKE — Spring Lake does not owe the federal government any Hurricane Sandy recovery money and can justify expenses that a federal audit said were not properly accounted for, borough officials said. An audit by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contends the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needs… Read the rest of this entry »

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Smith, NJ Delegation Continue to Press for Transparency, Reform at NFIP

WASHINGTON, DC – At a Capitol Hill meeting hosted Oct. 7 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, with Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a bipartisan group of NJ Members of Congress continued to press for equitable relief for… Read the rest of this entry »

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Feds question $770K in Sandy costs in Asbury Park

ASBURY PARK — A federal audit made public on Wednesday raises questions about more than $770,000 in grant funding Asbury Park spent after Hurricane Sandy, claiming the city did not provide sufficient evidence to support those costs. The city’s chief financial officer, however, said additional documentation has been filed that backs up that spending. The watchdog… Read the rest of this entry »

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Sandy victims’ new claim deadline: Oct. 15

Highlands residents Kerry and Jamie Gowan speak at May 2015 announcement that FEMA is reopening Sandy related flood insurance claims

WASHINGTON — Hurricane Sandy homeowners who feel they didn’t get a fair shake from their insurance companies now have until Oct. 15 to ask the government to reopen their claims. The Federal Emergency Management Agency extended its deadline to handle as many as 141,800 requests from homeowners who were not in litigation, about 70,000 of them… Read the rest of this entry »

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As FEMA deadline nears, push is on to reach fraud victims | Di Ionno

Since March, when FEMA announced it would reopen claims for Sandy victims who believed they were short-changed by flood insurance carriers, there has been a concerted effort to get people on board. Meetings have been held in town halls, churches, backyards and banquet rooms. Information sessions have been hosted by politicians, law firms, nonprofits and private… Read the rest of this entry »

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