Murphy Highlights Resiliency Efforts 1 Year after Ida Devastation

By Jim Pytell, Managing Editor On Sep 1, 2022

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Ida, which claimed the lives of 30 people and caused widespread devastation across New Jersey, including record flooding, power outages, and catastrophic damage to buildings.

“I saw things that you’d think you only see in apocalypse movies,” said Shawn Lipani, mayor of Hillsborough, a town which caught the brunt of Ida’s wrath last September. “Cars thrown around like toy boxes, and debris which came down the mountain and into car dealerships. … I had never seen devastation like that.”

Gov. Phil Murphy held a press conference today in Hillsborough highlighting state investments aimed at improving community resilience. In addition to the more than $650 million devoted to expansive response and recovery efforts to date, the administration is supporting recently established Ida recovery funding programs with $283 million.

The governor also announced the launch of disasterhelp.nj.gov, which will provide New Jersey residents, small businesses, local governments, and non-profit organizations with a directory of resources to prepare for and recover from disasters. A “Create your Disaster Recovery Plan” interactive tool on the homepage will help end users locate programs that meet their individual needs.

“Hillsborough – like so many other resilient communities that bounced back after Ida – is a quintessential example of what we, as New Jerseyans, can achieve for our residents, homes, and businesses when we build back smarter,” Murphy said. “Through intentional investments and the development of a user-friendly resource directory, we’re ensuring that disaster recovery is more efficient and long-lasting for residents and business owners alike.”

According to a press release from March, FEMA has since provided an estimated $806 million in funding to New Jersey alone, with the money going to applicants via grants for home repairs and replacements, for National Flood Insurance Program policyholders, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, and public assistance “to reimburse New Jersey applicants for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and other eligible costs.”

The Murphy Administration distributed state and federal funding for the following programs:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Household & Individual Assistance: More than $250 million
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans: More than $250 million
• FEMA Public Assistance through New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to State and Local Governments: More than $56 million
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Buyout Program: $50 million
• DEP Elevation Program: $30 million
• New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Small Business Grants: $10.5 million
• DEP community stormwater assistance grants: $10 million

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