By Jennifer Bradley, Packet Media Group
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Funds from the federal government have arrived to help offset the cost of repairs for Hurricane Irene damages.
The storm hit the East Coast last year at the end of August.
At Monday’s Township Committee meeting, Mayor Karl Feltes announced that two grants were awarded to Bordentown Township by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane Irene related expenses.
According to the mayor, a $146,944 grant was awarded for the repair and rehabilitation of the storm drain system in and around the municipal complex. The second grant, for $514,898, is designated for the repair and rehabilitation of the storm drain system near Germantown Road that connects through Georgetown Road.
Mr. Feltes said that Bordentown EMS director Andrew Law was instrumental in obtaining these grants.
According to Mr. Law, both storm drain systems were severely damaged because of the high velocity winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Irene.
He said the Germantown and Georgetown system disconnected after the storm and caused a sinkhole. The catch basins also failed and a light pole was undermined.
According to Mr. Law, Bordentown Township sent in a request to FEMA for financial aid in February and was denied.
He said the township did not provide all information in accordance with federal regulations and noted that some data was missing.
After this denial, Mr. Law said he solicited Congressman Christopher Smith, of the 4th district, for his assistance and drafted an appeal to FEMA’s response. The appeal hearing was in April.
Rep. Smith helped with the appeal process, reviewed Bordentown’s application and sent his staff to periodically check in with the township, according to Mr. Law.
”We are very pleased with Congressman Smith for following through in a very professional way,” said Mr. Law.
Following the appeal, representatives were sent to Bordentown to review damages and issues and agreed to provide Bordentown with grant money, according to Mayor Feltes.
“Congressman Smith was concerned that the initial federal disaster declaration did not cover the Fourth Congressional District he represents, which suffered severe storm damage from the shore to the Delaware River — including areas of Burlington County — as a result of Hurricane Irene,” Public Policy Director Jeff Sagnip on behalf of Rep. Smith on Wednesday. “He fired off a letter to FEMA to rectify the problem, and fortunately the agency expanded the disaster area to include Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties. That opened the door for flood victims to apply for help through FEMA’s assistance programs to recover flood damage losses to their homes that are not covered by insurance.”
Bordentown Township also requested a third grant for a project involving Jumble Gut Run, however, this request was denied, according to the mayor.
According to Mr. Law, after Hurricane Irene hit, the standing water already present near Jumble Gut Run, an intermittent stream that flows into Crosswicks Creek which connects to the Delaware River, was elevated. It also caused additional soil build up upon the western side of Jumble Gut Run and the area experienced significant flooding.
Mr. Law said this project would have cost more than $3 million. Among other reasons, it was denied because the municipality has never really maintained the area and does not own it.
Mayor Feltes said that the municipality now has to figure out how to address the Jumble Gut Run issue on its own.
”We got two out of the three, so we are partially happy,” Mr. Law said about the projects. “We want to thank everyone involved and also congratulate the state police in providing a good liaison between a federal agency and a municipality,” he said.
According to Mr. Law, the next step is to take the funds and begin to put them into action. He plans to set up visits with professionals and develop a flow of work for both projects.

