FEMA Will Reimburse Cranford $1.6 Million For Repairs To Brookside School

U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide $1.6 million to reimburse Cranford for emergency repairs to , which sustained severe damage during Hurricane Irene in August 2011.

When Hurricane Irene struck New Jersey, the Rahway River overflowed in Cranford Township, causing extensive flood damage at nearby Brookside Elementary School, where flood waters reached up to two feet. These funds will reimburse the township for repairs made following the hurricane, including flood water removal and remediation, repairs for damaged pipes and walls, and restoration of damaged items inside the school. 

As a result of the damage, School officials were forced to  and send students to other schools in the district, as well as Washington Elementary School in Garwood. .

"Hurricane Irene left a path of destruction across New Jersey and recovering from this natural disaster placed a heavy burden on Cranford and other local communities," said Lautenberg, who serves as the vice Ccairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds FEMA. "I worked to provide FEMA with funding to help local communities recover and I’m pleased that Cranford is receiving this federal money for repairs to Brookside Elementary School."  

In the days following the flood, Lautenberg was one of several legislators who toured the flood-damaged township, meeting with victims whose homes were destroyed and driving past Brookside Place School.

"The well-being of our children comes first," said Menendez, who sent a letter to President Obama in support of the Hurricane Irene disaster declaration. "That's why Cranford public school leaders moved quickly in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene to fix local facilities so that the education and development of our kids wouldn't be disrupted. And that's why I am pleased this grant will reimburse them for this important repair work." 

As vice chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds FEMA, Lautenberg led the fight to secure $7.1 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which reimburses local governments and individuals for storm damage repairs.

In September, 2011, shortly after Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey, Lautenberg fought to include $6 billion in a Senate emergency fund bill.  Following passage of the bill in the Senate, Lautenberg worked during negotiations on the bill with the House of Representatives to increase the total to $7.1 billion. The bill was signed into law in December 2011.

The reconstruction of Brookside Place School was a massive undertaking that included replacing floors, walls and the electrical system, as well as other improvements. Most interior walls had to be torn down, replaced and several rooms were given fresh coats of . Ceiling tiles were replaced and new light fixtures installed. In addition, new custom benches were built for for the All-Purpose Room and the coatroom area next to the kindergarten classroom.

For additional news and updates about Cranford, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CranfordPatch or follow @CranfordPatch on Twitter.