- Title: USA: Three months later, New Jersey still recovering from Hurricane Sandy
- Date: 29th January 2013
- Summary: SEA BRIGHT, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) TRACTOR CLEANING UP DEBRIS FROM NEXT TO HOUSES ON THE SHORE LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) DESTROYED HOUSES NEAR THE SHORE SIGN OUTSIDE LONG BRANCH WEST END PARK, READING: "THE FUN NEVER SETS ON LONG BRANCH. FUN CITY WILL BE READY THIS SUMMER" SEA BRIGHT, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASTOR MICHAEL A. TURNER, SEA BRIGHT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SAYING: "Some people didn't have insurance so they've been relying on the government for that aid and I imagine it's been very frustrating and they've been homeless, they've been without shelter, they've been without heat." LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) WORKERS REPAIRING PARTS OF THE BOARDWALK ALONG THE SHORE SEA BRIGHT, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) BOARDED UP BUILDING NEAR THE SHORE VARIOUS OF WORKERS REPAIRING A DAMAGED BUILDING VARIOUS OF DESTROYED BOARDWALK VARIOUS OF ROOF OF BUILDING BEING REPAIRED / U.S. FLAG IN FOREGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASTOR MICHAEL A. TURNER, SEA BRIGHT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SAYING: "I think right now with this budget being passed they're going to feel even more secure, because that was the only thing that was left out. They knew that the town...they knew that the government that is here in the town (was there for them), the local government, but what they were looking for was that hopefully the government, the United States government, would be there for them as well." LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 29, 2013) (REUTERS) DESTROYED HOME ON BEACH DESTROYED SWINGS IN BEACH PARK BULLDOZER REMOVING SOIL AND DEBRIS / BOAT WASHED ASHORE WIDE VIEW OF BEACH FROZEN WATER MOVING PAST HOUSES ON THE SHORE
- Embargoed: 13th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Disasters,Nature / Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA38MLZI3173Y3SXWC7QAV3IGXO
- Story Text: Exactly three months after Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast coast of the United States, New Jersey's coastline is still reeling from its effects.
But while repairs are still underway and victims of the superstorm struggle to rebuild their lives, some good news is bringing them renewed hope.
A long-delayed $50.5 billion aid package for victims of the storm cleared the Senate on Monday (January 28) which will provide $10 billion U.S. dollars to repair public transport infrastructure, $5.3 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund and $16 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding - money to be used by municipalities largely to rebuild homes and businesses.
The package, approved 62-36 in the Democratic-controlled Senate, now goes to U.S. President Barack Obama to be signed into law. Added to flood insurance legislation passed by Congress earlier this month, it brings Sandy aid appropriations to $60.2 billion.
Many residents are still left homeless and scores more are without power and are battling a bitter cold spell that has gripped the region in the middle its winter.
Pastor Michael Turner of the Sea Bright First United Methodist church, which suffered damage during Sandy, says the government-approved aid will offer much needed assistance to those who do not have insurance and who were left destitute by the storm.
"Some people didn't have insurance so they've been relying on the government for that aid and I imagine it's been very frustrating and they've been homeless, they've been without shelter, they've been without heat," Turner explained.
"I think right now with this budget being passed they're going to feel even more secure, because that was the only thing that was left out. They knew that the town...they knew that the government that is here in the town (was there for them), the local government, but what they were looking for was that hopefully the government, the United States government, would be there for them as well," he added.
The Sandy aid package became ensnared in a bitter partisan battle over deficit reduction. Many Republicans saw it as an opportunity to take a stand against a big spending increase after being forced to swallow tax hikes on the wealthy as part of the New Year's deal to avert the "fiscal cliff."
Conservative groups, including the Club for Growth and the Heritage Foundation, had urged senators to vote against the package without any offsets, saying it was filled with "pork."
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the $50.5 billion package on January 15 - largely with Democratic votes - after shaving off about $160 million and preventing any funds from being diverted to disasters in other states.
House Speaker John Boehner enraged East Coast politicians on January 1 by canceling a previously scheduled vote on Sandy emergency funds.
The storm wiped out many New Jersey and New York shore communities and flooded lower Manhattan transit tunnels on October 29, 2012.
Since then, Congress has approved $9.7 billion to shore up the National Flood Insurance program to allow it to continue paying the Sandy-related claims of homeowners who bought flood insurance.
The $60.2 billion in aid is short of the $82 billion initially requested by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The legislative delays marked a stark contrast with the congressional response to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Gulf Coast communities and flooded New Orleans in 2005.
Within 10 days of that storm, Congress had approved $62.3 billion in aid. Subsequent measures brought total taxpayer funds to rebuild the region to more than $100 billion. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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