Flood Costs Rising

The cost of alleviating and cleaning up after flood events is increasing.

Wayne has spent $500,000 this year on flood relief. That expense covers paying police to evacuate victims and for removing items destroyed by floodwaters.

FEMA declined to deem the flood event that occurred in March a major disaster.

Ben Rich, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.’s chief of staff, said that in a letter to Governor Chris Christie, that the “damage from the event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state…accordingly, we have determined that supplemental federal assistance is not necessary.”

Pascrell said his office “will be investigating the decision-making process and obtaining more details on FEMA’s rationale for their denial.” The state has 30 days to appeal the decision.

The township would have been eligible to receive 80 percent of its flood expenditures back if FEMA had deemed the flood a major disaster.

The council approved bonding $4 million to fund a buyout program for homes in the Hoffman Grove section of the township, which is often the hardest hit in terms of flooding. The township is also looking to purchase two new evacuation vehicles.

Officials and residents want a permanent solution to the problem.

“I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out there’s something really wrong here,” Mayor Christopher Vergano said. “When it happens every five years, I think it’s tolerable. But it has happened three times in the past 12 months.”

Area residents with state and local officials this week in Little Falls to voice their concerns.

“This is a man-made problem that’s out of control,” said Abbie Limani. “It is worse now than it has ever been.”

The problem lies with the Pompton River floodgates. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) control the gates, which became operational in 2007. Officials and residents contend the gates must be removed or left open until the river’s water level significantly decreases. Keeping them closed only causes the water to rush downstream faster, causing flash flooding.

Governor Chris Christie has allocated $120,000 to fund an independent study regarding the floodgates. The study will determine if the gates are working properly or not. Wayne officials are scheduled to meet with the DEP to discuss sending out Request for Proposals for the study.

Officials in Little Falls have applied for grants issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grants will make it possible for residents to elevate their homes two feet. Wayne has chosen not to pursue that solution.

“We have not been a proponent of elevating homes,” Vergano said. “If you elevate a home, you still aren’t taking the people who live there out of harm’s way. We need a permanent solution.”

The township is seeking to buyout more properties in flood-prone areas. Dozens of properties in the Hoffman Grove section have already been purchased. More than 200 homeowners have applied to sell their properties. Approximately 75 could qualify for buyouts.