Hurricane Sandy

Home Buyouts in Flood Zones to Begin

The buyouts in areas like Sea Bright, prone to flooding, expected to start soon, though participation remains voluntary.

Buyouts of properties in flood prone areas are expected to begin within a matter of weeks, beginning in Middlesex County and working south into the summer months, as residents and their respective town officials make the difficult decision to abandon entire neighborhoods for good. Though buyout specifics have been limited, Bob Martin, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, said between eight and 10 towns along the coast have inquired about participating in the State’s Blue Acres program, which purchases severe repetitive-loss homes in flood areas and converts the land into open space. Martin said he wanted to be cautious about naming the municipalities that have inquired about the property buyouts as many have…

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Hurricane Sandy

Deadline to Apply for FEMA, SBA Extended to May 1

Deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter and business registration with SBA

Residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy now have until May 1 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a prepared statement from the governor's office.  The deadline extension also applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance. Businesses applying for SBA Economic Injury loans still have until July 31 to apply. The loans are for businesses that did not suffer any physical damage, but lost revenue in Sandy's aftermath. State and federal offiicials have urged all residents and businesses affected by the storm, whether it was through flooding, wind damage or loss of business  revenue, …

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Hurricane Sandy

FEMA: We Offer Aid, Information for Sandy Victims

As residents remain anxious in the aftermath of Sandy, the agency says it is offering tips and information about mitigation.

Navigating her way through the piles of paperwork, through meetings with contractors and the near never-ending stream of advice coming at her from every direction is a new experience for Jacqueline Capestro. Then again, so was watching ocean water surge down the street and into her home. For the 22 years she’s lived there, Capestro had never once seen her Bradley Beach home flood. When she returned following Hurricane Sandy to assess the damage she found her floorboards buckled, the furniture destroyed, and a flood line on the wall three feet from the floor. After initial shock slowly shifted to resolve, Capestro was left without an answer to one very important question: What now? In Capestro’s case, and in the case of many New Jersey’s …

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Hurricane Sandy

Information for Sandy-Battered Businesses at Monday Meeting

UPDATE: New location: White Sands, Point Beach

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and FEMA will explain how businesses damaged by Sandy should apply for financial assistance at a meeting on Monday at the White Sands. The Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and the Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce are welcoming business owners and managers from across Ocean and Monmouth counties to attend the session from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the White Sands, 1205 Ocean Ave., Point Beach. The Point Pleasant Chamber on Saturday had announced in an email to all members that the meeting would be with SBA at the chamber office, 2810 Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant Borough. However, there was an announcement on the chamber's Facebook page on Sunday that the meeting would be at the White Sands…

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Hurricane Sandy

HURRICANE SANDY: JCP&L Says it Learned From Its Mistakes

Stresses storm may knock out power for 7-10 days

  Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) President Don Lynch says the company has learned from the mistakes it made from Hurricane Irene and is ready for Hurricane Sandy and the threat it poses to the state. The company took heat when Hurricane Irene left many New Jersey towns without power for days - and, in some cases, weeks. Many thought JCP&L's response was too slow. The biggest lesson learned is getting the information out to customers and municipalities as specifically, quickly and often as possible, Lynch said. The company wants its customers to know as much information as possible, he said. "Just know that Jersey Central will be working hard day and night - we've already started, should that storm hit shore here and cause outages …

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Flood Insurance Program is Extended

Federal program is vital to coastal property owners and to the real estate industry.

President Barack Obama signed a bill on July 6 that extends the National Flood Insurance Program for five years. Hurricane Katrina, in 2006, dealt a $16 billion blow to a federal program that was already operating at a deficit. The continuation of the program has been in doubt since then, and the Senate had passed only a 60-day extension in May.  "The uncertainty over the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has come to an end as Congress passed a five-year extension of the federal flood insurance program on June 29, 2012 as part of a larger surface transportation authorization bill," U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) said in a news release. LoBiondo voted with the majority as the bill passed in the House of Representatives, 373-52. The …

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Rain, Flooding Expected Today

Hazardous weather ahead, forecasters say.

In what could be a one-day preview of potential nor'easters this fall, the Shore area will be socked with some possibly heavy rain and tidal flooding today, forecasters say. "There is the potential for heavy rain as a strengthening area of low pressure and a cold front move through the region," a forecast from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly said early Wednesday morning. The forecast called for possible thunderstorms and strong winds. Minor tidal flooding is also possible, the forecast said. By Wednesday night, as much as 2.5 inches of rain could fall. The local marine forecast calls for seas to build from 4 to 6 feet early Wednesday to 5 to 8 feet in the afternoon. South winds could be sustained to 35 knots in the …

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Obama Arrives in New Jersey to Tour Flood-Ravaged Areas

Five helicopters signal president's arrival as crowd lines Passaic Avenue.

President Barack Obama, wearing a blue buttoned-down shirt, waved to a crowd along Passaic Avenue in Fairfield Sunday from the back of his black motorcade car as he sped toward Wayne and Paterson to tour flood-ravaged areas.  Obama could be seen briefly in his motorcade after arriving at Essex County's airport in Fairfield in one of five military helicopters that landed between 12:25 and 12:45 p.m. Police presence was heavy all along Passaic Avenue, while sharpshooters could be seen on top of the buildings at the airport. A line of buses were parked in front of the landing area so the view of his disembarking was blocked from the crowds. Crowds of local residents lined parking lots and grassy lawns of businesses along Passaic Avenue to get…

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Hurricane Irene

Flooding Tips in Irene's Wake

With over 3,000 customers still without power on Tuesday, the county has tips for clearing flooding conditions in your home.

If you experience flooding related to Hurricane Irene, the Monmouth County Health Department recommends taking precautions to keep you and your family safe. Monmouth County experienced significant wave action and 9 to 12 inches of rainfall that contributed to inland and coastal flooding. “Flood waters caused by the hurricane is impacting Monmouth County residents greatly,” Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley said. “Flood water can create special challenges with cleanup efforts; so be sure to take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.” The Monmouth County Health Department is concerned because flood water is unsafe and may contain gasoline, oil or sewage. “As flood waters recede, there are several things …

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Hurricane Irene

Video: Aftermath of Hurricane Irene in Rumson and Fair Haven

Residents dealing with tree damage, downed power lines and flooding.

Rumson and Fair Haven residents were out and about checking out the damage and the scene Sunday afternoon after Hurricane Irene pounded the area. Trees and power lines were down, there was flooding along the rivers and many residents still did not have power for over 12 hours. Check out the video above to hear locals talk about the effects of the heavy storm that hit the area on Saturday night.

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