I'm not sure I follow what that means.... are you saying that the residents of Ortley should be thankful that the mainland didn't lose houses so they can carry the burden? If so, that's a ridiculous statement. It's like saying the north end of town should thank the south end of town and this is the problem the barrier island "stepchildren" have with TR. Wonder what would happen to the "mainland" people if the barrier island was "reclaimed for nature" as some posters suggest. Can't we all just get along....

Mr.? I must respectfully disagree with you that the mainland was not effected as severely. Drive thru all of the bay front/river areas and you will see that there is more damage on the mainland. The devastation in Ortley along the beachfront is bad but nowhere near the areas affected on the mainland.

I think I'd have to agree with Bruce on this one. The extensive bayfront communities on the mainland likely constitute a higher proportion of the town's property tax collections than the barrier island properties. The damage here was spread from Silverton, Anchorage, Snug Harbor, Shelter Cove and all the way down to and across Rte. 37. The barrier island is not the only place that was severely impacted, and there is plenty of hurt to spread around. Not to mention the fact that the mainland properties were home to far more school-age children than the barrier island's largely seasonal homes. The pictures from the island are tragic. However, the loss here on the mainland has impacted far many more year-round residents. Either way, the loss of a home is the loss of a home. It's sad that anyone has to go through this.

all the way down the shore line was devastated take a look at bayville forked river ocean gate and so on they too have lost their homes its so sad ..neighborhoods destroyed

Good, we had too many people here anyway

tuna stick - Perhaps it is time for the town leaders to figure out a way to cut excessive spending to make up for the loss in revenue. We do it in our households all the time when income declines. Please do not tell me that there is no fat to trim at the township and county levels. Tax increases should be the plan of last resort. Pension contributions are one place that I can think of. Municipal salary freezes are another.

The barrier island pays 40% of Toms River's taxes...for very little services...we don't use the schools and really only get true services in the summer months...while our taxes doubled after the 2010 reval...most on the mainland went down...Are you prepared to pay for this?

SG Girl-Yeah, some just DON'T get it. And Neptune's comment, in particular, doesn't he understand that Island Beach STATE park is STATE revenue...not county/township. When bozos like this start to pay the taxes we do (while only using AND, unfortunately, actually GETTING very little services), then it will sink in. Also, the dune replenishment should be for public and private beaches. Now is not the time to engage in this argument....the private beach properties (if they even still exist) helped block some water and wind for the rest of the community. Occasional dumping of sand for the good of the entire community, in particular where beach property may no longer exist (so what are they protecting?) is NOT adverse possession. Build the dunes...protect the ENTIRE community....including the taxpayers on the beach. The TR barrier island communities have bigger issues than this right now.

I agree with you. Id rather look at the glass half full than half empty* We rebuild and go forward!

Touche, Cade. We are called OCEAN county for a reason. Coastal living has its risks and its countless benefits. Let us not forget the tourism revenue generated by virtue of our location. We've been nailed by a 100 year storm. We will rebuild and will hopefully do so in a manner that better prepares us for the next one.

Flood insurance is a federal program. Everyone's taxes are paying for it. Fine, rebuild, but no insurance policy should be written for it. I tired of paying for your seaside home.

KingNeptune - I'm also far from retirement age so should I too be "tired of paying" for the seniors? I do not have children in the public schools. Shall I also be "tired of paying" to educate other's children? Tourism and our oceanfront economy is what drives our area. It brings in a lot of revenue to oceanfront communities. The risk of hurricane related weather is one we bear for living in what I consider to be one of the nicest areas in the state. All things considered, we've been pretty lucky for nearly 50 years in these parts. Re-calculate flood insurance premiums statewide if that is determined to be best. But, we cannot insure everything against mother nature. For that matter, should we have abandoned New Orleans after Katrina or Miami after Andrew? No, we rebuild. That's what makes us the strongest nation on earth....at least, that's what we used to be.

King Neptune - Math isn't your strongsuit, huh? Do you get it yet...the barrier island revenue and taxes pay for YOU/your property? And, yes, Donna...agreed. However, some of this anger by barrier islanders v. mainlanders (and vice/versa) has been brewing for years and was never stamped out by officials who had a duty to do so. When officials/representatives refer to barrier islander taxpayers as "those people"...not good.

Also, just putting out there a note that my OB tax bill not only pays for public services, but we pay an add'l fee because we need to use a neighboring gov't's fire department since ours was shut down. So, we are taxed double for the same service...for our Township fire dept. and then for the neighboring fire department who will respond in time. Hence, the Fire tax specifically outlined in the bill. See...we pay for our services and THEN some. But, let's get the community on its feet

The reason you have to buy insurance at all is your mortgage company. And many insurance companies won't give you a policy at all if you're that close to open water. I'm four miles from the bay and GEICO and AAA won't issue any policy.
If there weren't any Federal flood insurance, you won't have any policy. And more insurance companies are going to pull out of the market after this. The whole concept of building on cement slabs without sinking pilings and raising the house is probably gone forever.

Try to get there earlier than the stated 8am. Buses were leaving before 8am because lines were long at the registration site. If your house is still standing, you will be surprised and dismayed of the mold buildup that 3 weeks of neglect caused. By 2pm, you can't wait together off the island because of the sadness of the situation.

Paula; thank you for the information. Our house is there,but sure its wet and mold will be present. Good luck with your home. Thanks, Jim

My parents also said that there is a heavy police presence and that everyone there was very nice and very willing to help. Bring a mask, mold is everywhere. Things moved very smoothly getting on the island and as Paula said, they start earlier than advertised because the lines are long and start early. But come 2pm, you are ordered out - no exceptions, no waiting. Oh and people were bringing suitcases but also other things that they were able to carry (like pictures frames or things of that nature) and the drivers were really good about getting as much as they could on the bus. Best of luck to you, they said that even though they saw all the pictures, they weren't prepared to see it in person.

smells like the bay in my house

"to say that we should stand by our self aftter we paid all these taxes to support the mainland is stupid and short sighted" Who said that? Maybe some residents of Ortley and other barrier island communities that have bee talking succession? " it was a home run for them to say"...who is them?

Really, someone changed the whole process of local taxation on you after you bought your property. Bet you had to pay your mortgage 12 months a year when you only used your 2d home for 10 weeks. They should be arrested for putting a gun to your head and making you buy that property. they probably reneged on the promise that shore property will rise in value forever and a barrier island never floods. Do some research on "cranberry inlet" before you rebuild.

@g tari

if you don't like sell and don't come back.

"how about all the taxes we" WHO IS WE? "pay to send you" WHO (PLURAL) IS YOUR? " toms river kids" ORTLEY KIDS ARE NOT TOMS RIVER KIDS? to school are kids" OUR KIDS? "don't".... ORTLEY DOSENT? "use the schools les see what happens now when little johnny & mary dosent have a teacher" NO TEACHERS? WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? "wipe there nose" NOW CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL TO HAVE THEIR NOSES WIPED? Wow! g tari, are you on drugs? Don't know why I bother!

Toms River was incorporated before the revolution, we educated our kids before this storm, we'll educate them after. My brother has a home smaller than mine in Middlesex County, his school taxes are higher than my total tax bill and they haven't built a school since WWII.

We really shouldn't fight among ourselves. I would assume we are all here because we are happy with the area. Some folks pay taxes to enjoy several weeks here and others live here all year long. Trust me, when the seasonal folks go home? us "mainlanders" enjoy that Island till you guys get back in May. Change is coming, there is no avoiding it* Save your fight for those that seek to take away your properties.

How sad. I know most of Toms River hated that eyesore. I was hoping the BOE would've taken the money and did something wothwhile with it. I can only imagine what it's gonna like like when "inflated"....Uglier with a big patch.

John - Actually, your flood insurance coverage will be supplemented by FEMA (a federally, taxpayer funded administration). FEMA covers a good chunk of the repair on owner-occupied homes because otherwise waterfront and flood zone residents would not be able to afford the true premium rates for full flood coverage. Try quadrupling your flood premium. That would be more in line with the actual risk ratio of the insurers. Conversely, if my "mainland" home were to burn down, you will fund zero toward rebuilding it. Flood insurance works quite differently. I would be a little less harsh to the folks on our side of the bridge. The general taxpayer is essential in your ability to live on the island and truth-be-told, we are also going to bear the bulk of the burden of rebuilding that island. Let's not forget that we are all hurting. However, we will all rebuild this wonderful place.

Donna - just trying to clarify. Are you saying that because FEMA premiums are not as expensive as they could be because taxpayers contribute? Btw-I and my family are taxpayers too. I can reasonably conclude that probably John and his family are as well.

So the $1,000's of dollars paid into the economy/taxbase by me/my family (and many others in many states) to both private AND FEMA insurance every year would be even more but for we, the taxpayers? Please know that that this is the 1st time either ins. carrier has been needed to be used by my family [luckily]). Is this what you are trying to say? Couldn't we say that about everything, like the real estate taxes of the barrier islanders carrying the mainlanders?

And, likewise, if my barrier island home burnt down or had a man-made peril, than the flood, it would be covered by my private insurance, too.

And, as I read John's comment, he was only addressing those who were being harsh mainlanders...instead of community rebuilders. And, like he and you both reitterate...let's rebuild and get it done so we, taxpayers....can ALL enjoy OUR community/county/state.

What's a "winny" mainlander? I'm for cutting the BOE budget by 50%.

taxed - Trust me. I am not underestimating the importance of tax revenue from the barrier island. It is fundamentally important in running this town. What I am simply saying is that the feds developed FEMA because of the astronomical cost of flood insurance premiums and the unwillingness of flood zone residents to buy it or to even have the ability to afford it. But for FEMA, you as a flood zone resident would be paying no less than 4 times what you are currently paying in flood insurance premium payments. You pay a reduced rate because of the federal program's backing. As a result, the taxpayers (by and large non-flood zone residents) fund the FEMA program so that it will supplement those insurance benefits not covered by your own flood insurance policy. By doing so, the cost of flood insurance dropped to a tolerable level for the average waterfront homeowner. The risk and cost of that supplemental coverage is absorbed by EVERY taxpayer. To sum it up, we need each other to maintain our oceanfront community. The barrier island residents need the mainlanders just as much as the other way around.

and as far as fema picking up what our flood ins doesnt pay for, we have to wait and see about that... think they offer low interest loans not money we dont have to pay back

Jenny - My understanding is that those low interest FEMA loans are for those property owners (business and residential) without private flood policies. They will receive no replacement value simply a loan, which will need to be repaid, to make their repairs. Provided the effected property was a primary residence for the homeowner with flood insurance, FEMA, in conjunction with your flood insurer, should make the homeowner whole. I filed a FEMA claim for a primary residence flooded during Hurricane Irene in north Jersey. The homeowner did not maintain a flood insurance policy. He was denied any replacement/repair benefits from FEMA because of the lack of a private flood policy. He was eligible for temporary housing assistance, but nothing with respect to repair costs.

The reason you need a neighboring town fire dept is the lack of volunteers at the beach.

They're not just going to change rates, they will pull out of the market completely. There are many companies now that won't issue policies along the beach. FEMA is not insurance, it's disaster relief and they issue low interest loans.

Amen, Ms. G. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Very well said Mrs. G. Why can't we all just get along.

Candy; I second your comment,they did a great job and we now know how bad it is first hand after being there this week.