Town Official Responds to $24 Million Flood Grant

With the announcement that Wayne will receive $24 million in grants to help purchase homes in the flood ravaged sections near the Passaic River, Sandy Galacio, director of Wayne’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, praised the decision.

“I think this is a good thing for the town and this is a good thing for the members of the community,” said Galacio. He explained that during every flood town officials have seen the look of heartbreak in the eyes of the homeowners and residents, no matter the age, and by being able to purchase the homes, the homes can be "cleared of structures" and the land seeded so it may return back to a natural state.

Galacio explained the most flood prone section of Wayne, the Hoffman Grove section, had at one time been a camp ground for people from New York City for recreational uses. He said tents would be set up, people would build campfires and set up shelters, but eventually summer homes were built. By the 1920s and the 1930s, the homes were converted to year-round residences.

“When water from the Passaic River needed to run off, it would soak into the ground, but now with so many sections under concrete from the development that has taken place over time, the water just floods,” he said.

Because of the flooding, Galacio confirmed that Wayne has already “acquired 71 properties in the Grove with money from previous grants coupled with funding by the Township.” He reaffirmed that “participation is voluntary and homeowners are offered fair market value for their properties. Closing costs for the seller are waived as the Township provides the use of our Legal Department for that purpose.”

The main requirement of the town is that “as a condition of the grant the [land] may not be developed in the future.”

Galacio said that grants not only benefit the town financially, but the top benefit was it kept rescuers and residents out of harm’s way.

“During a flood event and especially when assisted evacuations are necessary residents and first responders are placed in jeopardy,” said Galacio. “This program reduces the numbers exposed to such risks and provides complete mitigation for each property.”

He explained that something as simple as a boat operator maybe unaware of the location of a submerged mailbox could damage the motor on a boat or something far worse could happen. By clearing the land, this prevents that.  

See the Wayne Patch's previous article give more detail to the flood grants .