NJ.com - More than $17 Million in Sandy Aid Will Pay State for Cleanup and Fund Mitigation Initiatives

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By Erin O'Neill

Federal lawmakers announced today that more than $17 million in Hurricane Sandy relief aid is headed to New Jersey to pay for storm-related expenses as well as mitigation projects.

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, (D-N.J.) and Jeff Chiesa (R-N.J.) said in a press release that roughly $7.1 million will go to the state Department of Environmental Protection for reimbursement of money spent on contractors who cleaned sand and silt debris from state-run waterways. An additional $10 million will help the state develop initiatives under the umbrella of its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which aims to reduce the risk of future flooding.

The lawmakers said $4 million is slated for the state Department of Community Affairs to pay for costs associated with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program's Elevation Program. Some of those costs are application, database and web development, technical assistance and outreach and education.

The program, which was announced in July, provides homeowners with up to $30,000 to help raise their homes.

The state will also receive $6 million to develop the Energy Allocation Initiative. The program will offer a number of energy options and back-up power systems and will be open to applicants from anywhere in New Jersey, the lawmakers said.

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