Jersey Shore mayor says FEMA was important for hurricane recovery as Trump mulls phasing agency out
President Donald Trump has said he wants to phase out FEMA and have individual states take on the job of rebuilding and providing aid after a disaster.
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FEMA could be dismantled by November of this year when the current hurricane season ends.
President Donald Trump has said he wants to phase out FEMA and have individual states take on the job of rebuilding and providing aid after a disaster.
Having rebuilt from Superstorm Sandy, News 12 checked in with the mayor of Union Beach to see what he thinks of the idea.
Mayor Charles Cucozza says the state of New Jersey couldn’t afford such a responsibility.
“I think it might be better to reform FEMA, cut a lot of the red tape, the aggravation it creates for homeowners and for residents," he says. "I don’t think that Union Beach would be 50% built back if it wasn’t for FEMA.”
Union Beach homeowners rebuilt following record flooding, with the help of FEMA funding.
Homes that were once destroyed by the water from Raritan Bay are now standing on pilings or large foundations, 12 to 15 feet above sea level.
Experts in the field of coastal planning coastal resiliency are concerned that if FEMA is gone, there’s no one else to step in and take on their work.
FEMA is also responsible for hazard mitigation and flood plans, as well as working with homeowners.
