Flood mitigation plan in southern Middlesex County gets federal funding boost
MONROE – More than $1 million in federal funds have been awarded for developing flood mitigation strategies in southern Middlesex County, which in recent years has suffered repeated damage to homes and businesses from tropical storms.
"After being battered by wind and rain and floods over the past few years, Middlesex County is finally getting the help it deserves," U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey said at a press conference Friday. "It's no surprise that floods are the leading hazard identified in the county's mitigation plan."
Menendez was joined by U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, county and local officials and residents of the Rossmoor senior community, to announce the funding at the Monroe Township Municipal Building.
The $1.1 million grant is part of the federal appropriations bill that Congress passed in December, which included more than $181 million in New Jersey projects.
Menendez said the funding will go toward hiring a multi-disciplinary team of experts who can leverage their experience to help make the region as floodproof as possible.
Working with regional partners, Middlesex County will make sure that the project considers the most vulnerable and underserved residents, Menendez said.
The county will make sure that the strategies are equitable, innovative and inclusive, he said.
"And most of all, the team of experts will make strides towards adapting Middlesex County's infrastructure for a changing climate that promises to bring stronger storms more frequently," Menendez said.
For many communities located along waterways and low-lying areas, it doesn't take a hurricane or a superstorm to flood their streets, he said.
"All it takes is a few rainy days in a row for flooding to impact their livelihoods," Menendez said.
The senator said for every dollar spent on mitigation, the federal government saves $6 on disaster relief spending.
Menendez said the funding brings families from Cranbury to Plainsboro, Spotswood to North Brunswick, closer to the day when the Raritan River is not the devastating flood risk that it has been.
"My hope is that this grant funding for Middlesex County is a down payment on flood mitigation projects to come," he said.
Watson Coleman said Tropical Storms Henri and Ida in 2021 caused more than $40 million of property damage in Middlesex County.
She reiterated climate change will only make these storms more frequent and severe.
"We must do more to prepare our communities for this alarming new normal and that means updating our 20th-century infrastructure to withstand our 21st-century challenges," she said.
Also see:Mayors, environmentalists to Gov. Phil Murphy: Bolster NJ’s flood regulations
The congresswoman said thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the country's roads, bridges and railways will be modernized.
"It's no secret that flooding is the most frequent and most damaging natural hazard facing Central New Jersey and southern Middlesex County," Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios said. "In fact, it is one of the leading hazards identified in the county's All-Hazards Mitigation Plan and the reason we launched the Southern Middlesex County Flood Mitigation and Resilience Project."
Flooding is not a community issue but a regional issue, Rios said.
"We will work together to navigate the effects of climate change as the regional issue it is and together we'll identify ways to slow or mitigate the impact of flooding on our communities," he said. "With this funding, we will be able to continue to identify and address gaps in flood resiliency within the southern Middlesex County region."
Monroe Mayor Stephen Dalina said flooding from Henri severely damaged the Rossmoor senior community.
"This storm dropped over 9 inches of rain in three hours," Dalina said. "Many of our senior residents were living a nightmare."
The mayor also emphasized a regional approach is required for flood mitigation.
"Rainwater knows no municipal boundaries," Dalina said. "That's why a regional study is needed. I feel quite confident that this study will help mitigate future flooding."
The mayor said he never again wants to see the lives and homes of township residents in danger because of flooding.
Dan Jolly, president of the Homeowners Association for Rossmoor, expressed his appreciation to Menendez and Watson Coleman for funding the study.
He said many Rossmoor residents have expressed worries about future flooding.
"You can't answer it," he said. "You can't give a positive answer."
Rossmoor resident Carol Forte said although her home was not damaged in the flood, she and some of her neighbors lost cars.
"I can't tell you how important this is for the future," Forte said. "I can't tell you how much this project means to me personally and all of my neighbors. If there's no hope for us, to go through this again, that's devastating and that's how it's been kind of feeling. There's little things here and there that were done, but this this is a big thing to do a study and really look at a mitigation project that will save us all in the future."
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex County NJ flood mitigation plan gets federal funding
