Pallone Announces Additional $7.1 Million to Continue Woodbridge and Sayreville Buyouts and Demolitions

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will receive an additional $7.1 million to continue to fund buyouts and the demolition of flood prone properties in Sayreville and Woodbridge.  $3,303,332 has been allocated to continue to buyout and demolish 196 properties in Sayreville and $3,862,563 has been allocated to continue to buyout and demolish 187 properties in Woodbridge.  These latest grants are awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and were made possible through the Sandy Aid package Congressman Pallone fought for in Congress. 

“This additional funding brings us one step closer to providing much needed relief to Woodbridge and Sayreville homeowners who have repeatedly suffered and struggled to put the pieces back together after each flood,” said Congressman Pallone.  “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 and take residents out of harm’s way.”

$43,293,713.80 was initially allocated to the Sayreville project, which covered 75% of the project’s total costs.  However, the state has decided to fund this project with 100% federal funds and has allocated an additional $14,431,238, or 25%, bringing the total cost of the project to $57,724,954.  The Woodbridge project will also be funded with 100% federal funds.  Funds are being awarded incrementally for both the Sayreville and Woodbridge projects until all the designated properties are acquired and demolished.

Pallone has met with a number of 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.