State Takes Sandy Answers on the Road
A recent mobile cabinet made a stop in Stafford, one of many locations state officials have visited following Hurricane Sandy.
At a mobile cabinet in Stafford, a state official talks with a pair of public adjusters.
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These issues aren’t resolved simply by the passage of time.
Residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Sandy continue to struggle, even now, nearly five months after the late October storm caused massive destruction to New Jersey’s coastal communities.
They want to get back into their homes, know how to adequately prepare for the next storm down the road. They want to reopen, welcome back customers who are also still reeling following Sandy.
They want advice, answers.
For the past several months, government employees and top-level State officials have been on the road, making stops in Sandy-impacted areas and holding Mobile Cabinets designed to provide information and a bit of understanding. The cabinets, which feature a rotating group of departments and agencies like FEMA and New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance, among others, meet with residents in an effort to provide the kind of accountability that’s only available in face-to-face interactions.
“There are still a lot of issues,” DOBI Investigator Patricia Fleming said during a recent cabinet stop in Stafford Township. “People want to meet face to face, they want to see a human being. Talking over the telephone is fine, but they come here prepared with papers and documents and they want help.”
More than a dozen mobile cabinet meetings have been held in a number of towns throughout Ocean, Monmouth and Cape May Counties. Some, like a cabinet meeting held in Union Beach and attended by Gov. Chris Christie, attract a large and curious crowd, and others, like Stafford’s low-key cabinet, see a steady stream of exasperated residents just looking for answers.
The need still exists, Fleming said, though in the several months since Sandy’s arrival the issues have evolved. There’s more understanding now. Residents and business owners aren’t looking for broad answers to their post-Sandy concerns any more, it’s specificity they’re seeking.
“Each location is different. I think they need is getting less as people understand more,” Fleming said. “People are getting help and I think issues are getting resolved but a lot of issues remain.”
Pat Damiani’s Beach Haven business was destroyed during Sandy. Polly’s Dock, which included a bait and tackle shop, 15 rental boats and other sea crafts, and, of course, the dock itself, was ruined by surging floodwaters. He hired a public adjuster to assess the damage, but he knows insurance won’t pay for everything.
For Damiani, the answer may be a Community Development Block Grant. The grants, which will be available as early as April, are part of the more than $60 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package approved by Congress in January. He’s heard of the grant program, but specific questions, like if he’s eligible to apply for funding and what the money can be used for, can only be answered by someone with direct knowledge of the program and application process.
“The situation is sad and today I’m overwhelmed,” he said. “But they gave me a card and a name. I’m going to call Monday and hopefully they can help.”
The mobile cabinets are also a venue to vent frustrations or even, if necessary, file a complaint with the appropriate department. At Stafford’s cabinet meeting, many attendees sat waiting for an opportunity to discuss insurance and flood elevations with an onsite FEMA representative. Issues ranged from the new Advisory Base Flood Elevation, of ABFE, maps, to flood insurance claim payouts, which have been delayed or whose monetary totals have fallen short of residents’ expectations.
Mary Humphries, armed with a manila folder of paperwork, waited patiently for an answer as to why her insurance premiums have risen 900 percent since she filed a claim for Sandy damage to her Long Beach Island home.
“It feels like retribution,” she said. “They won’t put anything in writing, they won’t tell me anything.”
Unlike her phone calls to insurance officials, which she said are met with attitude, and her messages, often unreturned, the cabinet meeting provided Humphries the opportunity to ask her questions directly, without having to be redirected or left waiting for a call back that may or may not come.
Fleming said she hopes that the residents who attend the mobile cabinets find the answers they need, or if not at least some level of satisfaction that their issues will eventually find resolution. And as communities continue to rebuild, the mobile cabinet will continue to make appearances, Fleming said.
“Wherever the need is we will be there,” she said. “They can’t get to Trenton, so we’ll bring Trenton to them.”
Ortley Fulltimer
11:21 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
More high paid suits spewing BS and giving false hope........but with a costly traveling show. " If you can't get to Trenton to get screwed, then we will come to you and screw you in your home town" or what's left of it. Great .......give them another brochure and point them back toward their wrecked home. Less than 70 days until Mem. Day. Your doing a heck of a job Brownie...... oh, I mean Christie.
Nancy
12:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I attended. Better info than some of other forums. Ins. Comm. was able to get my hopes up for a potential errors and omission settlement with State Farm. Potential. Been working on issue for over 5 months! Christies guy has some potential but I am afraid just more help for the "more needy". This excludes middle class retirees such as myself. I'll keep looking for better answers.
Nancy
12:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Why?
Nancy
12:27 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Why?
Ortley Joe
2:29 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I own a home in Ortley Beach without flood insurance but I live in northern NJ I have been a summer resident in Ortley Beach for 54 years. How can I get help from FEMA or the State to repair MY HOME?
MTBottle
3:00 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Delete MTBottle
2:59 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Gotta ask, why should FEMA, or my tax dollars go to pay for repairs to your home....
If you wreck your car, tax dollars are not used to repair it...
FEMA should be there to help with temp. living quarters and also to provide funds for the public infrastructure, not private homes. That is what insurance is for. If you elect not to have insurance, well, thats kind of like betting on red and black comes up...Oh well... Instead of standing with hands out looking for something, grab a shovel or a hammer and start repairing your own home. Remember to have or not to have insurance is a choice we make...Live with the choices you make.
Ortley Fulltimer
3:28 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Repair your home yourself........yes. Raise it 20 ft. in the air.......no. Guess you are ok with your living situation. Bad Karma coming your way someday for sure!
Ortley Joe
4:10 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Thanks pal I guess my taxes are different from yours I only use my home for about 5 weeks a year but I have to help pay for all the locals garbage removal, snow removal, police protection, schools, libraries, ecc., ecc. Without question remember more than three quarters of the tax payers are part time. I am repairing my part time home just like my full time neighbor who is getting a check from FEMA I didn't realize his taxes did more than mine. By the way he didn't have flood insurance either.
John Eric Mangino
4:48 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
One Fema is the Flood insurance Two all should be treated the same you pay the same taxes ,,,Three Nice attitude
mr. picky
8:20 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Amen Brother
re-tired
3:25 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Fema comes with strings attached ,you can get a loan but you must buy insurance and sign over your title. Evan the grants come with strings attached . If you have any other means to repair your home use it. STOPFEMANOW.COM
charlie
4:16 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I'm okay with fema not paying for my income property and second homes. Why should someone else pay for my investments. What pisses me off is the need to have licensed plumbers repair my water, sewer and heating systems. And nearly every Plumbing contractor is out to Rheem you.
John Eric Mangino
4:51 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Charlie if it was damaged during the storm and you have a friend or you can do the work do it . You dont have to pull permits .... If its electrical thou I would ... Get priced up Front . Offer Cash if you can ..
MTBottle
5:56 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
The "entitlement" shown regarding FEMA is right up there with welfare and habitual unemployment offenders. Come on. My living situation is fine, thank you . Primarily because I did not go cheap with my insurance coverage. I did not allow myself to buy something worthless. We are ok. I should worry about karma? I'm not the one looking for freebies on the backs of taxpayers. I guess we should then bail out those who were foreclosed on, heck they pay taxes. Out of work for years? Don't worry, you pay taxes, let us send you a check for as long as you need. Who else, anyone who has a bad situation financially, let the government bail you out? Is it right that those in area like Sea Bright have been rebuilt over and over, on taxpayer dollars, get to rebuild yet again? Sorry, I advocate less government, more personal responsibility.
mr. picky
8:23 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
It is so nice to read something wriiten by someone who obviously has a brain and common sense.
charlie
6:01 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
John, where did you hear you don't need to pull permits? You still need permits but there isn't any fees where I own. And if it's a rental property you need a licensed plumber. Even the gas company wouldn't give me the PSI for the pressure test. I'm going for 15 psi for 24 hours. My father was a plumber and heating guy and I was his helper. This was pre day laborers.
MTBottle
9:32 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Proud. Typical liberal response. I am neither a shill ( unless speaking truth is being a shill) nor Am I a liar. As far as having a brain..... Please, we raise our children to be honest and do what is right and to be responsible for our actions. Why should that change because we are " grown up". Resorting to name calling and not addressing facts is Smoking mirrors to the truth. And you know it.
MTBottle
11:12 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Perfect? Far from it. But apparently better better choices than yours. And I won't apologize for smart choices and refusing to cut corners to save a buck like.... Well you, I guess. How is that working for you now. As far as social security, Medicare and the like..... We are all entitled to those programs..... However, i would be a fool to believe those programs will be financially sound by the time I might be able to take advantage of them. Again, I chose to take care of myself when my "golden years" arrive. If I can take advantage of the social programs, great. If I can't, I made smart choices so I can live comfortable. If the Patch is still around then, I can only imagine that I will be reading posts from those who made poor choices and decisions. Welfare for all. Instead of your hand out, keep them busy.
MTBottle
11:17 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
And now I must get to bed. I have to work In the morning.
I have to get enough sleep to be able to make those oh so smart choices like..... I should take care of myself and not rely on the backs of others.
MTBottle
11:50 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Wow, impressive list. Hope you did 't hurt yourself copying and pasting it off google. As a proud American I don't run or cry due to the tax I pay. Funny you would complain about taxes yet have your hand firmly outstretched. And you wonder why most are annoyed. If you don't like the cost of being an American, go somewhere else. I hear entitlements are great in Mexico. I don't think anyone will stop you.
Nancy
5:26 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
MTBottle, Who are you talking to? I can't see why you are pontificating your ideas to no one I see asking for a handout. I don't disagree with your ideals but seem to be misplaced with the complexities that face us. I am happy you are fine. I'm personally not but trying to figure it out.
MTBottle
6:02 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Yea it looks stupid. Last night someone with the handle pride or proud was bickering with me. I guess they used the delete button on their posts.
Nancy
6:09 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
That makes sense. However, the problems are complex. Some are simple, others are not. I am just looking for answers to my individual circumstances. There seems to be a crack a few of us are falling into.
Janet Stenger
9:07 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
My question is why isn't George Gilmore being investigated for being on Ashbritt payroll for influence peddling?