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Pallone Announces $10 Million for Woodbridge Buyouts and Demolitions

May 29, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC —Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will receive $10 million to buyout and demolish 98 additional flood prone properties in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The funding is being provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via the Sandy aid package that Pallone fought for in Congress. This grant comes in addition to a previous $3 million allocation that contributed to the buyout and demolition of 89 other properties in Woodbridge.

“This funding will bring much needed relief to 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.”

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.

“The second round of funding earmarked for the New Jersey Blue Acres program will secure the buy-out of an additional 98 properties located in the Woodbridge River flood zone and will effectively take residents out of harm’s way and will allow for the reclamation of the entire area,” said Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac. “I would like to thank Congressman Pallone for his advocacy and support of the residents to secure buy-out funding for the hardest hit properties in the Woodbridge flood zone area.”

Issues:New Jersey