Long Branch Could Receive FEMA Funding For Boardwalk Rebuild Soon

By Christopher Sheldon

Long Branch is likely to receive word on how much Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding it will receive to repair its Hurricane Sandy-damaged boardwalk, bluff and sea wall in the next week.

"We think we will have a number from (FEMA) in about a week in terms of the bluff, boardwalk and sea wall," Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said on July 30.

Schneider did not comment on the exact amount of money the city will receive from FEMA, but expects it to be a "big number."

Belmar recently received $9.2 million from FEMA for its oceanfront repairs which included the installation of a new boardwalk. Long Branch's funding is expected to be higher than that because it would include repair work to the sea wall and bluff

Schneider said once the city receives the funding, it will pick a design for the boardwalk this fall and hopefully award a contract in the winter. He has said he hopes to have the boardwalk built in time for the 2014 season.

Schneider said K. Hovnanian, a real estate company, came up with a design footprint for the boardwalk several years ago, but that no action was ever taken to rebuild it. He said the city could possibly uses that same footprint.

"It was approved by CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act), but we would have to raise their design," Schneider said.

Long Branch officials have called for a raised boardwalk, similar to the one in Pier Village which fared well during Hurricane Sandy. Schneider has said if the city rebuilds the boardwalk to the same specifications it was before Sandy, that FEMA would not likely reimburse the city if it was destroyed by a future hurricane.

Officials have also said they would not build anything until the Army Corps of Engineers completes its beach replenishment project. The contract for that project is expected to be awarded in August and be completed by the beginning of 2013.