In the months since Superstorm Sandy, she has taught many types of lessons. Some learned from Sandy as they felt her direct wrath. While others have studied her impact and many have learned valuable lessons while trying to aid those who have been affected by this devastating storm.
While litigation continues and ensues for many who suffered damages by Sandy, Congress has passed and will fund a Hurricane Sandy grant program to 11 states for certain projects that will hopefully lessen wraths of future storms. Claims Journal reported about this funding and explained how the funds will be spent:
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resilience Grant Program will fund a variety of projects to protect communities at risk from future big storms like the October 2012 event that pummeled the East Coast. While 11 states will share in the fund, New York and New Jersey will receive the largest portions.
New Jersey has the largest number of approved projects at 13, including restoration of beaches, salt marshes and urban areas including Hoboken. The grants also will fund projects to improve water quality in the 1.1-million acre Pinelands region; improve shoreline conditions along seven miles of Cape May County beaches; better protect the Delaware Bay shoreline in Cape May and Cumberland counties; and restore wetlands in Newark Bay, Great Egg Harbor Bay, and Little Egg Harbor.
New York has 11 projects, including an oyster colony in Jamaica Bay, flood mitigation in Coney Island, and wetlands restoration in Suffolk County. Other projects will restore the Bronx River shoreline at Starlight Park; better protect Sunken Meadow State Park; improve Harlem River water quality and resiliency, and reconnect 10 land-locked areas to the Allegany Reservoir in Cattaraugus County.
Article author Wayne Parry also reported that states receiving the aid would also match funds to the extent of 72 million.
In addition to New York and New Jersey, other states to receive funding for coastal projects include:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Virginia,
Ohio and Pennsylvania will receive funding for river projects.
The projects chosen came from competition for the grants and the Interior department says the projects will create 600 jobs in local communities, with young people and veterans given special consideration in hiring.