News Release 1/28/14

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will receive an additional $2,896,000 to finalize buyouts and demolition of 196 flood prone properties in Sayreville. This grant will fund the remaining 25% of the buyouts that are already planned.

The project, started in 2013, was originally awarded $43,293,713.80, which covered 75% of the project’s total costs. However, the state has now decided to cover 100% of the full cost of the project. This grant is awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and was made possible through the Sandy Aid package Congressman Pallone fought for in Congress.

“This grant will help to lessen the financial hit that our local governments still face as communities continue to recover from Sandy,” said Congressman Pallone. “This funding will bring much needed relief to homeowners in Sayreville who have repeatedly suffered and struggled to put the pieces back together after each flood.

As extreme weather becomes more and more frequent due to climate change, I’m pleased that the Sandy Aid package has allowed for steps like these buyouts to mitigate future storm damage and costs.”

Pallone has met with a number of Sayreville homeowners who have faced severe and repetitive damages to their homes from flooding, and he fought to secure funding for their buyouts. In a March 2013 letter to Governor Christie on the State’s proposal to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, Pallone called for full funding to aid the homeowners.