Bradley Beach Borough in Monmouth County has received preliminary approval for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The borough was awarded over $1 million to help pay for the extensive repairs that resulted from Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today.

    This award provides $1,076,541 to Bradley Beach to help pay for a project repairing the boardwalk, bulkheads, dune fencing and recreation equipment along the beach which were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. 

    “Bradley Beach took a direct hit from Sandy,” said Smith who took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. “The damage to the boardwalk and the beach facilities was extensive. But local workers and officials labored long and hard to reopen their town to visitors for the summer season. Of course, for municipal governments and property tax payers, who could have been looking at unprecedented repair costs, this federal assistance will help offset the financial impact of Sandy.”

    At a meeting in his Washington Office over the summer, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs—instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later.

    The total costs to repair the damage was $1,196,157, and the federal government will pay for 90 percent of the costs. The increase in the federal cost-share will save the borough an additional estimated $180,000.

    “It is the result of a lot of hard work by our emergency coordinators,” said Mayor Gary Engelstad, noting the borough’s beaches are in “great” shape. “There is a great deal of required paperwork that makes this happen. Without the attention to details and the cooperation of state and federal folks, this couldn’t have happened. The bulk of the credit goes to our emergency coordinators and our elected officials who made this happen.”

    The repairs will address damages to 21 sites located in the beach area. Repair work has begun at nine of the sites.

The work completed includes:

·         repair of sidewalks;

·         curbs and masonry walls;

·         replacement of playground equipment;

·         retaining wall and fence;

·         block wall and pavers;

·         replacement of 5,400 square feet of boardwalk;

·         replacement of 44 parking meter posts;

·         replacement of three sets of beach access stairs, and;

·         one beach access ramp.

The work to be completed at the remaining 12 sites includes: 

·         replacement of 15,789 feet of fencing;

·         repair of the treated pine bulkhead;

·         replacement of 3,004 feet of aluminum pipe railing;

·         repair of the fountain;

·         replacement of three gazebos;

·         replacement of 220 concrete and wood benches;

·         repair of the parking lot;

·         repair 12 shower units and replace 3,700 feet of PVC pipe;

·         replace damaged curb and sidewalk.

  According to the mayor, this FEMA grant approval is in addition to $300,000 already received, which will bring the total to $1.4 million.