NEW YORK — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $32 million in disaster recovery and mitigation funding for New Jersey and New York, including close to $855,000 to reimburse New Jersey for fighting the Jones Road Fire.
FEMA’s Region 2 office announced the awards Oct. 22. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s share covers firefighting costs in response to the Jones Road Fire, according to the agency.
Most of the money — more than $29 million — comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses state and local governments for repairing critical infrastructure, restoring public buildings, fixing roads and covering emergency public health and safety costs after a disaster.
Other Public Assistance awards highlighted by the agency went to New York communities. They include more than $1.4 million to the Village of Highland Falls for permanent repairs to stormwater management in the Satterlee Subdivision after severe storms and flooding, nearly $1.3 million to the Town of Hopkinton and nearly $739,000 to the Town of Potsdam for bridge and road repairs following the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.
FEMA said it is also awarding more than $2 million across the two states through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which pays for projects meant to reduce future disaster damage, such as buying out flood-prone properties, elevating structures, improving drainage and upgrading utilities. One example cited was more than $446,000 for an emergency standby generator and emergency power for the Lock C-1 Tainter Gate following Debby’s remnants.
An additional $300,000-plus was approved through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which funds construction projects to protect communities from hazards like fires, floods and hurricanes.
FEMA said the money is sent to states, tribes and territories, which decide how it is spent. The agency described the awards as part of President Donald Trump’s promise to reform federal disaster support so that taxpayer money goes only to projects that deliver safety and security.
The announcement did not list other New Jersey recipients.
This report is based on a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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