The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has made public a proposed amendment to the Superstorm Sandy Action Plan for public comment. This amendment aims to reallocate $59.44 million in Superstorm Sandy Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds towards resiliency projects and Hurricane Ida recovery initiatives.
The Deputy Commissioner of DCA, Samuel Viavattine, who oversees the Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation responsible for managing federal CDBG-DR funds, emphasized the importance of resiliency projects in mitigating future weather-related disasters. The reallocated funds are intended to support existing projects aimed at enhancing New Jersey communities’ ability to withstand flooding, ultimately leading to stronger neighborhoods capable of withstanding severe weather events.
The proposal is open for public comment until August 29, 2023. This amendment marks the 53rd to the Superstorm Sandy Action Plan, which was originally approved in April 2013 to guide the state’s recovery from the impactful storm that struck on October 29, 2012.
The proposed amendment outlines several key reallocations:
- Rebuild by Design Hudson River Project: $35 million would be transferred to this project managed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The project focuses on urban stormwater management to address coastal storm surge flooding and inland rainfall flooding, especially in areas like Hoboken, Weehawken, and Jersey City during Superstorm Sandy.
- Resilient NJ Program: $5 million would be shifted to this program, also managed by DEP. The program’s Regional Resilience Planning Grant initiative supports the development of practical approaches to regional resilience planning. The additional funds would extend the program’s reach to areas affected by both Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida, broadening its impact.
- Homeowner Assistance and Recovery Program (HARP): $17.34 million would be transferred to HARP, which assists homeowners affected by Hurricane Ida with restoration work on their storm-damaged homes. This includes activities like rehabilitation, reconstruction, elevation, and mitigation efforts to enhance homes’ resilience against floods.
- Statewide Housing Mitigation Tool Program: $2.1 million would be allocated to this program, designed to evaluate housing vulnerabilities in disaster-prone areas. By assessing residential vulnerabilities, the state can better plan for future disasters in both Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ida impacted regions.
These reallocations reflect the state’s commitment to addressing climate change-related risks and bolstering community resilience against increasing flood threats. The programs and projects highlighted in this amendment underline the efforts made to safeguard vulnerable populations and strengthen communities against the impacts of climate change.