The past eight months has held a lot of firsts for Brick resident Barbara Burke.
A Valencia Drive resident since the 1970s, Burke said that until last October, she had never seen a storm cut a path of damage like Sandy left.
Another first: Today was the first time ever has ever seen a governor hold a press conference on her street.
Gov. Christie came to Valencia Drive to announce additional elevation grants for people like Burke, who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Like many of her neighbors, Burke said she was waiting to hear about grant funding before she began elevating her house, and the governor's announcement earlier today came as welcome news for her and her family.
"When the latest flood maps came out, we were moved to an AE 8," Burke said. "So we are raising to eight feet plus 2," she said, while speaking with her neighbor, Viola Small, also of Valencia, who has also lived on the street since the 1970s.
"I think they are going to look awful, all lifted like that," Small said, to which Burke responded, "at least we'll all look the same."
Small said she was happy that some of her neighbors will be able to benefit from the grant funding.
Small said her son and daughter-in-law, whom she lives with, raised her home last year and put up a new home in its place, which was elevated about the 7 feet mark.
The elevation helped protect their home during the storm. But, she noted, her family paid about $2,000 to pick up all the debris that gathered along the sides of their homes after Sandy.
"We didn't get a lot of water in the house," Small recalled, "but there was debris everywhere along the house."
Burke agreed. She said she had several inches of water in her home, and has been waiting for some guidance - from the recently-adopted flood maps and the governor, on what programs may be available to help her with the costs of raising.
"I am definitely applying," she said.
John Oliveria, whose home in front of where the press conference was held, said he, too, planned to avail himself of the grant program. He said he had 18 inches of water during Sandy and has been living with family since the storm.
He doesn't like to talk about Sandy much, just recalling "it was horrible for everyone."
Small said she was happy to hear the Governor's announcement today, and hopes many Valencia Drive residents, and other Brick residents, get to avail themselves of the grant.
"We're all family here" she said.
Click on the video above to see Oliveria's thoughts on the grant announcement today.
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