FEMA funding will power property purchases in Wayne

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced earlier this week that New Jersey will receive $48.3 million for toward projects to prevent reoccurring major floods, especially in northern New Jersey.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced earlier this week that New Jersey will receive $48.3 million for toward projects to prevent reoccurring major floods, especially in northern New Jersey.

Nearly $24.5 million will go directly to Wayne, on the Passaic River, to acquire 105 properties. More than $3.9 million comes from the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, and $20.5 million comes from the Severe Repetitive Loss Program.

Acquisition of a property under this program stops that parcel of land from ever being inhabited again, according to FEMA.

Mary Goepfert, of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, said FEMA and the state do a cost-benefit analysis on properties before a mitigation plan is turned in, to figure out if acquiring a property is more effective than flood insurance or repeated reconstruction.

Goepfert said planning for mitigation funds happens over a year cycle after a disaster declaration. She said businesses should contact their local OEM offices and planning boards for getting involved with the projects.

Goepfert also said FEMA and OEM are currently meeting with Wayne homeowners to discuss acquisitions.

A press release from OEM and the Department of Environmental Protection said mitigation planning is the “only phase of the disaster management process specifically dedicated to breaking the cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated losses.”

Other areas in the state receiving fund include Ocean Township, Nutley, Lambertville, Trenton and Little Falls. Lincoln Park, neighbor to Wayne Township, also is receiving $4.1 million for 15 acquisitions resulting from flooding in 2010.