Woodbridge Receives Over $1.7M in Federal Sandy Funding

Slightly over $1.7 million in federal funding is coming to Woodbridge to reimburse the township for the massive debris clean-up following Superstorm Sandy, according to New Jersey's U.S. Senators.

The money alotted to Woodbridge 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.

The $1,734,561 will reimburse the Township of Woodbridge 75 percent of what they initially charged the budget for debris removal following Sandy.

"We're pleased we are receving 75 percent," Mayor John E. McCormac said. "That was our biggest expense from Superstorm Sandy."

The funding announced on Tuesday is solely for the township's debris costs, however funding is available to homeowners and businesses through New Jersey's disaster recovery plan. Woodbridge also previously received $300,000 in FEMA reimbursements. 

"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."

Also awarded funding were: 

• $1,390,633 to Seaside Heights for search and rescue operations, sheltering, an emergency mobile kitchen and nonstop police protection.
• $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.

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