Paterson, NJ - As New Jersey continues to rebuild following Hurricane Sandy's devastation, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) a $2,332,456 federal grant to assist in recovering from the historic storm.  The federal grant, part of FEMA Category B Emergency Protective Measures, will fund critical services needed as a result of Sandy's damage to the facility including rental equipment, protective barriers and emergency repairs.

"Hurricane Sandy caused tremendous devastation to our region, particularly to New Jersey's utilities," said Rep. Pascrell.  "PVSC suffered significant damage as a tidal surge overwhelmed the facility, flooding equipment and forcing the facility to cease processing wastewater.  Recovering from this type of destruction requires the full cooperation of local, state and federal resources.  Wastewater treatment facilities like PVSC provide a critical service in protecting our environment and the public's health, so their recovery must remain a priority.  I will continue to fight to ensure our utilities have the resource they need to rebuild and be better prepared for future disasters."

FEMA Category B Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by Applicants before, during, and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent damage to improved public and private property. Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible.

Examples of eligible emergency protective measures include warning devices (barricades, signs, and announcements), search and rescue, security forces (police and guards), construction of temporary levees, provision of shelters or emergency care, sandbagging, bracing/shoring damaged structures, provision of food, water, ice and other essential needs, emergency repairs, emergency demolition and removal of health and safety hazards.

In the days following the historic storm, Rep. Pascrell wrote to FEMA Regional Administrator Lynn Canton urging the agency to provide resources to PVSC in order to assist in resuming operations.

In a continued effort to help the facility rebuild, in May Rep. Pascrell announced that FEMA awarded a $1,097,696 federal grant to PVSC to restore critical documents that were damaged by a tidal surge during the storm.
 

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