Belmar Mayor: Red Cross Failure To Distribute Superstorm Sandy Aid Is Unacceptable

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty released the following statement:

Following revelations that the Red Cross still has over $100 million in donated disaster relief aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy they have yet to distribute, Belmar Mayor Matthew J. Doherty released the following statement today calling on the organization to immediately begin work with area relief funds in critical need of aid and provide a full accounting of where they intend to distribute the donated relief money.

 “These revelations that the Red Cross is still in possession of over $100 million donated to help victims of Superstorm Sandy, while families throughout the Jersey Shore continue to suffer the aftereffects of the storm, are simply unacceptable.  I know in Belmar we continue to have families still unable to return to their homes, and I've heard similar heartbreaking stories of displaced families from many other Mayors in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

 The Red Cross does noble work, but I believe it is imperative they begin working immediately with area relief funds like the Belmar Sandy Relief Fund or The St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Rose to make sure these donated funds are expedited to help area families get back in their homes as quickly as possible.  Communities like Belmar banded together and fought through the unprecedented conditions brought on by Sandy to make sure we would be back, stronger than ever.  The volunteer and relief efforts put forth by people throughout New Jersey and around the world were a boon to our comeback efforts.  It is imperative that the Red Cross begin working with these area relief funds and provide a full accounting of where they intend to distribute the donated relief money to help area families get back in their homes.