Rep. Pascrell Announces $11.5 Million in Federal Funds to Assist Sandy Victims

FEMA grant will match storm victims with individual disaster case workers

WASHINGTON - As New Jersey continues down the long road to recovery in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today announced that FEMA awarded an $11,558,582 Federal grant to the New Jersey Department of Family Development for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP). The program matches storm victims with a disaster case worker that will assess the victims' needs and provide them the necessary resources.

"As New Jerseyans rebuild in the wake of the most devastating storm in recent history, we must ensure they have every resource available to them," said Rep. Pascrell. "Rebuilding your life after such significant loss can be a daunting task. Many times it can be difficult to find a place to turn. These Federal funds will go directly to the people who need them most, helping cut through the bureaucratic red tape too often associated with disaster recovery. I witness the critical nature of case work every single day in my office and understand that folks need answers. Local organizations like volunteer groups and non-profits are best suited to assess the needs of victims and provide them with the resources they need. A community-based approach to disaster recovery like the DCMP ensures we will build a stronger Garden State."

The DCMP, in partnership with the State of New Jersey, enables a whole-community approach through funding support to voluntary, faith-based and nonprofit organizations. The program is intended to establish a partnership between a disaster case manager and a disaster survivor so they can develop and carry out a Disaster Recovery Plan.

This partnership provides the survivor with a single point of contact to facilitate access to a broad range of resources. The process involves an assessment of the survivor’s verified disaster-caused unmet needs, development of a goal-oriented plan that outlines the steps necessary to achieve recovery, organization and coordination of information on available resources that match the disaster-caused need, and the monitoring of progress toward reaching the recovery plan goals.