Toms River Allocating $30M for Storm Damage

The Toms River Township Council is poised for an emergency appropriation of $30,000,000 to address damage from Superstorm Sandy.

The governing body has called an emergency meeting for Friday, 5 PM, in the Municipal Building to take action on the measure.

Expenditures are aimed at covering contracts approved by New Jersey and Ocean County officials for debris removal authorize by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; services for monitoring debris removal; and services to coordinate and oversee FEMA filings and reimbursements.

The Ortley Beach section of Toms River is generally acknowledged as having taken some of the worst beating that the superstorm delivered. Safety concerns prevented homeowners from returning to their dwellings until Wednesday.

Township Engineer Bob Chankalian has identified large stretches of beachfront as sustaining damage of 60 percent or above, indicating the likelihood that the homes in those areas are beyond salvaging.