Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Measure would have delayed hikes for five more years
An amendment aimed at halting federal flood insurance rate hikes for five years has been blocked in the U.S. Senate. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) was blocked from coming to a vote Tuesday by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Amendments in the U.S. Senate require what is known as "unanimous consent" before a vote can take place, meaning a single member can block a vote from occurring. Toomey told the New Orleans Times-Picayune Tuesday that he objected to changing reforms put in place last year because he supports the move to "diminish the subsidization that occurs now where homeowners in low-risk areas are made to subsidize in high-risk areas." Landrieu, the newspaper reported, said she will likely reintroduce the …
Monday, May 13, 2013
'Triple whammy' for Shore residents, Menendez says on U.S. Senate floor
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez threw Shore residents a virtual lifeline Thursday, delivering an address on the Senate floor where he urged colleagues to support an amendment to federal legislation that would stop flood insurance rate hikes, at least in the short term. Menendez (D-N.J.) spoke in favor of an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act which would stop flood insurance premiums from rising until FEMA completes its study on the affordability of premiums of the National Flood Insurance Program. Shore homeowners face annual flood insurance premiums of up to $31,000 a year if they do not raise their homes at a significant cost. Many homeowners who were never previously located in flood zones now find themselves being listed as …
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The funding will be used to pay back portions of expenditures incurred as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded more than $15 million in federal Public Assistance grants for shore communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy in a latest round of funding, according to a release from Gov. Chris Christie's office. The aid will be used to reimburse municipalities and counties for costs incurred in the aftermath of the late-October storm, whether that be for rescue efforts, cleanup, or reconstruction. The more than $15 million in grant funding has been awarded to Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Monmouth County, Middlesex County, and Woodbridge Township. Monmouth County will receive federal funding to reimburse the Sheriff's Department, which supplied security at shelters following Sandy and performed…
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Some municipalities, such as Sea Bright, desperately need the additional funds from Community Disaster Loan applications.
The impact of Hurricane Sandy on municipal budgets has put many Jersey Shore towns into a holding pattern, waiting as the state approves their budgets. Indeed, 32 towns impacted by the storm have applied for Community Disaster Loans, which are reviewed by officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and must ultimately be approved by the state Department of Community Affairs' Division of Local Government Services. Some towns, such as Sea Bright in Monmouth County, see this loan as an absolute must. The borough applied for about $1.25 million in the loan, and has not even introduced its budget at this point. Belmar and Manasquan have not introduced their budgets. "We need this loan. Without it, we're just not going to make it," …
Friday, April 26, 2013
May 1 is the final day for residents to apply for federal assistance in aftermath of iHurricane Sandy.
Victims of Hurricane Sandy who suffered storm-related losses have until midnight Wednesday (May 1) to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance. Survivors can register online and check the status of their applications at DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov. They also can call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362. May 1 is also the deadline to return applications for Small Business Administration loans, which are the primary source of federal funds for long-term rebuilding. Those interested in the low-interest loan program can apply for an SBA disaster home or business loan by filling out an online application …
Homeowners are faced with a choice of elevating a home at a high cost or paying thousands more for flood insurance
Elevate, pay thousands more in flood insurance premiums or simply walk away from homes? That is the question on the minds of some Hurricane Sandy victims. The first floor of Craig Verran’s Manasquan home was totaled. A home that never took on water in its nine years is now being refurbished prior to Verran making his decision. “It’s a tough decision,” Verran said. “You either elevate or else. It’s an 'or else' situation. You’re going to face premiums that are unbearable.” In addition to $150,000 toward the damage to his home and car, Verran will be facing at least $75,000 to elevate his home or a $7,500 increase in his insurance, he said. Before Sandy, Verran’s home was 1 foot above the required elevation and not in a flood zone. Now, with…
At a recent Stop FEMA Now meeting, Bayville residents expressed frustration over the vague answers they've received about rebuilding.
Homes are still in disrepair following Hurricane Sandy and residents are wondering how best to rebuild. New proposed flood maps could force residents to pay tens of thousands of dollars a year in flood insurance but many still don’t know where their homes fall in the different zones. Homeowners are grappling with decisions like should they elevate or simply leave it all behind. Compounding every single one of these questions is the fact that it’s just too difficult to get a straight answer to satisfy any of them. Before a crowd of about 150 people at Berkeley Township Elementary School Thursday night, representatives from Stop FEMA Now, the grassroots organization opposed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s advisory flood maps, …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Employees who suffered losses during Hurricane Sandy have one week to register with FEMA for assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging business owners to remind their Hurricane Sandy-impacted employees to register for disaster assistance before the application deadline expires in just one week. In terms of individual assistance, FEMA is and has provided grants to cover rental assistance, home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance. Assistance grants may also be available to help replace personal property destroyed during the storm and to help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other funding sources. But Sandy victims need to apply with FEMA by May 1 if they hope to qualify. The push to see Sandy …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Some vital records can be replaced with a simple phone call or by ordering online
While Jersey Shore residents continue the rebuilding process following Hurricane Sandy, replacing lost or damaged records is just another step in recovering. “While it can seem like a challenging task, the good news is that many vital records are relatively easy to replace,” a news release from FEMA says. Below is a list of places to obtain official copies of lost or damaged documents: Insurance: Contact your insurance agent for copies of your policies, recent billing records and cash-value statements. Financial Records: Contact your bank, credit union, credit card company, brokerage firm and credit bureau for copies of account statements, loan applications, credit reports and other records. Social Security Cards: Find the location of the …
Monday, April 15, 2013
FEMA video focuses on how one home survived while neighbors did not
Ed Wright's home, now, is one of few standing. But prior to Hurricane Sandy, it was one of the few standing on pilings on his street in Mantoloking. So many others were at ground level, and a recent FEMA video implies it was the foresight to raise the home years ago that helped Wright's home see less damage from Hurricane Sandy. In a dramatically damaged area of Mantoloking, FEMA found one homeowner's house had survived, and produced a video about Wright's plans years ago to raise his house, and how it impacted the home during Hurricane Sandy. FEMA's video, titled "Elevation Helps a Home Survive Hurricane Sandy," features interviews with Wright and pictures before and after the storm.
Spooner
12:24 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
@proud- you never cease to be funny: "intention of the Constitution to limit the POWER of the Government" Now I know your not going to do this...but read the opening remarks of Chief Justice John Marshall in the 1824 NYC navigation case... sounds like he agrees with you? http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0022_0001_ZS.html PS: every time Justice Scalia opens his mouth about "… more ›