City Applies for $126M in FEMA Funding for Flood Mitigation

The City of Hoboken has applied for $126 million in federal funding to create a more flood resistant town, Mayor Dawn Zimmer said on Thursday night.

The city hopes that the hazard mitigation funding will pay for its flood wall proposal, but also about $80 million in open space acquisition with an underground detention system.

“We need to figure out a way to protect the entire city,” Zimmer said. Since elevating buildings on piles is not an option, Zimmer said, another way must be found.

The grant money — while unclear when and how much of the funds the city will see — would also pay for more generators, a more updated warning system around town in case of an emergency.

The city is also supporting an application by the North Hudson Sewerage Authority to build three more wet weather pumps in Hoboken. Both the NHSA and the city submitted their applications for the funding about two weeks ago. 

Many residents in Hoboken could face “serious cost,” because of Sandy and potential future storms, the mayor said. By protecting the entire city — and making it a so-called “Shade X Zone” under FEMA regulations — some residents would not have to be required to pay for expensive flood insurance.

Under FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, people could be eligible for $30,000 to raise up their homes, Zimmer continued. But, since that’s not an option in Hoboken, “we are missing out.”

Seeing how there were roughly 1,700 homes affected, Zimmer said the city is missing out on roughly $52 million.

“I’m begging, pleading,” Zimmer said, “to give to us in another form.”

Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, who will be challenging Zimmer in November's mayoral race, said he hopes the mayor will work with him when it comes to flood mitigation.

"“It’s good to see Mayor Zimmer finally working with state and federal partners to fix this serious problem,” Ramos said in a press release. “It’s important for city leaders to work with county and state officials to ensure the needs of the local community are being met at all times.”

When asked about her proposed flood wall proposal, the mayor said that the plan will still have to be “evaluated and studied.”

“It’s a concept,” she said. “It should be seriously considered.”