NJ Purchases First Homes in Sandy Buyout Program

Tuesday, October 29, 2013 11:34 pm | < 1 Minute Read

A sign counting the days since Superstorm Sandy destroyed thirty homes in Ocean Breeze rests on the front of a trailer serving as a temporary storage area on Quincy Avenue near Staten Island's southeastern shore in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) — A sign counting the days since Superstorm Sandy destroyed thirty homes in Ocean Breeze rests on the front of a trailer serving as a temporary storage area on Quincy Avenue near Staten Island’s southeastern shore in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New Jersey has purchased its first homes under the Superstorm Sandy buyout program.

The state announced Thursday one home and property sold for $252,768 and the other for $170,186. Both are in Sayreville.

They’re among the 129 homes in Sayreville that FEMA has approved for buyouts. The agency gave the state $55 million to buy 272 houses in the town and neighboring South River.

Twenty-seven people have accepted offers so far.

New Jersey wants to purchase 1,000 homes in coastal areas and 300 near the Passaic River. The areas were either deluged during Sandy or are flood-prone during storms.

The Environmental Protection Department’s Blue Acres Program is meeting with storm-affected homeowners in other municipalities.

All homes that are eligible for the program must have sustained flood damage.

This article appeared in print on page 36 of the October 30th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.