Rebuilding Union Beach project guide available for any community struck by natural disaster

"Rebuilding Union Beach," an organization that successfully provided 14 Sandy-impacted families with affordable, storm-resistant modular homes hopes its Project Guide will serve as a national model for any community struck by natural disaster. 

Jennifer Maier, group founder and former Union Beach Borough Administrator, said they want to make other cities and states aware of the Project Guide, which includes detailed information that might benefit them.

"It could be applied anywhere, that really was the purpose of our project," said Maier. "It tells them all the ins and outs, things to watch out for, how to structure it, and it will give them the blueprint for how to do the project in their own location," she said.

Creating more than one prototype with different heights off the ground and different family sizes makes the project easily adaptable to any size property, according to Maier.

Constructing the modular homes was possible with grants from various Sandy-related charities and donations from almost 60 other partners, according to Maier. New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie's Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund contributed $1.67 million and  the Robin Hood Sandy Relief Fund provided $770,000.

"Our main goal was to make the home sustainable in every way, environmentally and financially, so that the families we knew could be there for the long term. So what we did was, we made them eco-friendly. It's all non-toxic interior finishes. There's rain gardens, rain barrels for water conservation, native plantings," said Maier. She said they also used  mold resistant siding and provided bamboo flooring, a renewable resource.

The homes were fully furnished complete with appliances and all necessary amenities, and some were equipped with solar panels to help lower-income resident save money on their electric bills, according to Maier.

She said home owners were responsible for contributing whatever funds they could, such as any money they received from flood insurance claims or from FEMA for their foundation through ICC grants, or Increased Cost of Compliance.

The success of the project in removing the onus of rebuilding from residents has earned it national recognition. It has received awards from the American Planning Association, PlanSmartNJ, and the NJ State Assembly.

Public access to the Rebuilding Union Beach Project Guide is available on the groups facebook page as well as at RebuildingUnionBeach.org.