Pallone Urges FEMA to Move Forward with Construction of Sea Bright Bulkhead Project

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Wednesday wrote Federal Emergency Management Agency Region II Administrator Lynn Gilmore Canton in support of the proposed bulkhead replacement project in Sea Bright. Funding for the project that would alleviate flooding has been preliminarily allocated and Pallone urged that FEMA quickly move forward with the project.

“This project is incredibly important to the Sea Bright community and will provide an important level of protection from future storms,” Pallone wrote.

The full text of the letter appears below.

September 13, 2011

Lynn Gilmore Canton
Region II Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0002

Dear Regional Administrator Canton,

I am writing today in support of a proposed bulkhead replacement project in Sea Bright, New Jersey. I have been contacted by Sea Bright Mayor Maria Fernandes and Councilwoman Dina Long about this important project, which they fully support. I am aware that funding has been preliminarily allocated for this project that would replace five bulkheads at Osbourne Place, Center Street, Beach Street, South Street and River Street; construct a new bulkhead at the end of Beach Way; and construct a storm water pump station to alleviate flooding on Osbourne Place.

The town of Sea Bright is one of the most flood prone portions of my Congressional district due to the fact that it is extremely narrow, bordered on the western side by the Shrewsbury River and on the eastern side by the Atlantic Ocean. Flooding in the town typically occurs on the river side and this project will provide a significant level of protection from flooding to homeowners and businesses in these areas.

I understand that funding for this grant has been preliminarily allocated through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and the project is currently in the review stage. This project is incredibly important to the Sea Bright community and will provide an important level of protection from future storms. I urge you to approve this grant to fund this extremely critical infrastructure project.

I appreciate your consideration of this request. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress