More Than $3.7M in Federal Sandy Funding Comes to Monmouth County Public Works

Monmouth County Public Works will receive $3.714 million from FEMA for the county's efforts to protect against flooding, and clean up flooding from Hurricane Sandy.

The money to Monmouth County is part of $9.4 million in federal funding being distributed through FEMA's Public Assistance program throughout New Jersey, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced Tuesday. 

$3,714,294 will to go Monmouth County Public Works for the department's pre-Sandy efforts to protect against flooding, and its post-storm response work of clearing blocked roads, setting up evacuation routes and detours, and blocking hazardous areas. 

$1,291,688 to Monmouth County for the Sheriff's Department efforts to provide security at shelters, conduct welfare checks, perform search and rescue operations, and operate 911 call centers following Sandy.

"It is good news that this federal funding is continuing to flow into local communities, helping them recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy," said Lautenberg, a Democrat and member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds FEMA. "This federal aid will help pay for emergency actions taken in the immediate aftermath of the storm, as well as ongoing repairs that are rebuilding our state stronger than ever before."

Roads such as portions of Ocean Avenue in Belmar and waterfront roads in communities such as Sea Bright and Highlands remain closed for repairs and nearby construction.

Menendez, a Democrat who fought for federal Sandy relief in New Jersey, said that the funding is "critical" to New Jersey municipalities as the summer tourist season nears.

"There are still many challenges to face on the road to full recovery," Menendez said in a statement. "I will continue fighting for the federal resources we need to help all New Jersey communities rebuild even better and stronger than before the storm."

Also awarded funding were: 

$1,257,465 to Middlesex County for repair of the boardwalk at Old Bridge Waterfront Park.

$3,714,294 to Monmouth County Public Works for the department's pre-Sandy efforts to protect against flooding, and its post-storm response work of clearing blocked roads, setting up evacuation routes and detours, and blocking hazardous areas. 

$1,291,688 to Monmouth County for the Sheriff's Department efforts to provide security at shelters, conduct welfare checks, perform search and rescue operations, and operate 911 call centers following Sandy.

$1,734,561 to the Township of Woodbridge for the Township's massive debris clean-up following Sandy. 

The total Sandy aid enacted by Congress is $60.2 billion. That funding includes federal money to help homeowners, businesses, communities and infrastructure repairs.