Testimony from Councilman Weiss as presented to the Legislative Flood Remediation Hearing on 9/22/07

Due to the destruction caused by a "1,000 Year Flood," (as defined by the National Weather Service), several communities in Burlington and Camden Counties were declared disaster areas by the President on July 16, 2004. The storm caused significant flooding along the north and south branches of the Rancocas Creek, a 360 square mile watershed (the largest in south central New Jersey), of which Medford Lakes is a part. Settled in 1927, Medford Lakes has approximately 1,500 homes (a third of which are owned by senior citizens). The town experienced approximately $9 million in damages to public infrastructure from the Flood, an amount 3 times the annual municipal budget.
Medford Lakes is gratified by the support and prompt concern shown to its residents by FEMA and State Emergency Management officials in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, and as of July of this year, the town has completed nearly all of its major capital restoration projects. Medford Lakes’ citizens also appreciate the support of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which has provided low interest loans for, and expedited review of, the town’s dam and lakes restoration projects.
However, over three years after the disaster, Medford Lakes is still struggling to receive FEMA public assistance for capital projects necessary for the town’s rebuilding. Without FEMA assistance or additional State relief, the citizen’s of Medford Lakes, who like other New Jersey residents pay ever increasing property taxes, confront stark choices.
Financial Impact of Flood Recovery
The precursor legislation (S2636) to the 2003 Bond Act was originally proposed as a grant program to fund major dam restoration and infrastructure projects. The legislation that ultimately passed under S2182 changed the funding for such projects to a loan program. While the availability of these funds has been instrumental to the survival of Medford Lakes, the change to loans from grants will have a lasting negative impact on Medford Lakes and other small communities affected by the 2004 floods. Without FEMA assistance or State-sponsored debt relief, the average homeowner will see an increase of $7,500 or 23% over the next 20 years, which equates to approximately $11.25 million. In a town where 98% of the municipal budget is funded by homeowners and where State aid is generally low, this increase will undoubtedly force many seniors with limited financial resources and middle income residents to move from their homes.
Cost to Citizens of Medford Lakes is disproportionate to the benefit realized by the State
Restoration of natural resources in Medford Lakes benefits the entire Rancocas watershed through cleaner water, healthier ecosystems and flood control. Medford Lakes’ investment in natural resources recovery benefits the State environmentally and fiscally, because such investment makes New Jersey more livable and attractive for individuals and families who seek to make New Jersey their home. It is appropriate and necessary that State grant aid be applied toward these types of large scale, critical infrastructure capital projects.

Rigidity of FEMA regulations stall and in many instances prevent timely and cost effective reconstruction of vital natural resources and public infrastructure
FEMA public assistance regulations, which reimburse solely the cost of "what was there" before the flood, do not adequately account for State regulatory requirements that mandate new construction standards or methods for large capital projects. FEMA public assistance regulations also, at times, do not facilitate cost effective solutions to disaster recovery projects. Medford Lakes’ approach to natural resource restoration saved time and money, yet FEMA regulations do not recognize such effort. Small towns like Medford Lakes should not have to fight our own government to receive necessary and appropriate public assistance to rebuild after a natural disaster.
Requested Action
The citizens of Medford Lakes support the efforts of the sponsors of S475 and A1695 to provide 50% debt relief on the dam restoration loans from the 2004 floods. In recognition of the inequity of any single municipality shouldering the financial burden of flood control beyond its borders, the citizens of Medford Lakes request that the State legislature reevaluate funding for flood control in Southern New Jersey, and allocate State aid in the form of grants to address prevention and recovery efforts prospectively and retrospectively, in the form of 100% debt relief for major reconstruction projects from the 2004 floods.
The citizens of Medford Lakes further request that their State representatives lobby Congress to amend the Stafford Act to require FEMA to acknowledge State regulatory requirements and cost efficiencies in the reconstruction of facilities eligible for public assistance.