Parsppany Expects FEMA Funds for Floods, Snow Emergency

Parsippany has already received $35,000 in funds from FEMA to help pay the cost of  the March 2010 flood and expects more money for this year's flooding and December's blizzard, according to Eric Hubner, Office of Emergency Management coordinator.

The $35,000 was divided among the township's fire departments and rescue and recovery squads and the township can expect about $60,000 in additional funds for last year's flood, Hubner said.

"They had to pumpout a lot of basements and take care of downed lines,'' Hubner said.

Parsippany is in the midst of a lengthy application process to receive up to $400,0000 from the federal government to elevate New Road and prevent the frequent flooding that occurs there during heavy rains, Mayor James Barberio said during Saturday's municipal budget session.

Hubner outlined the amount of FEMA funding the township could receive during the meeting.

He said Parsippany applied for $230,000 in federal funds for the December blizzard, which was declared a disaster, and expects to receive about 75 percent of that amount.

The township is also applying for $129,000 in funding for last week's flooding, but Hubner doesn't know if they will receive it unless it's declared a disaster .

The total budget for the Office of Emergency management is about $56,000 this year, including salaries and operational costs, said Hubner.  It was reduced 5 percent from last year.

He requested two electronic road signs, which cost $24,000 each, to help redirect traffic around flood prone streets like Vail and New roads.