Report: 8,800 Toms River Homes Sustained Sandy Damage

In New Jersey, Toms River sustained the largest number of damaged housing from Superstorm Sandy, as more than 8,800 units were affected, according to an interactive map of destruction compiled by njspotlight.com.

Of those homes in Toms River, 1,000 were severely damaged — many from Ortley Beach — meaning they were impacted by more than $28,800, according to data provided by the state Department of Community Affairs. 

In Toms River:

• 7,665 total homes were damaged — 5,845 homes had minor damage; 922 had major damage; 898 severe
• There were 1,140 total rental units with damage — 631 minor; 407 major; 102 severe
• 5,069 businesses were impacted

According to the key, major damage includes homes that suffered $8,000 to $28,800 in damages while severe is more than $28,800.

The data notes that nearly 87,000 housing units were damaged statewide, about 12,500 of those were either destroyed or sustained major damage. At least 1,000 residences were damaged in 24 municipalities in seven counties. Nearly 400,000 businesses were impacted, as well.

The DCA released its action plan for spending billions of dollars in Community Block Grant Disaster Recover funds on Tuesday. The initial phase will provide $1.8 billion to help more than 20,000 homeowners, 5,000 renters, 10,000 businesses, as well as municipalities impacted by the storm.

“This plan puts into motion the specific actions we’ve been designing to get relief out as quickly as possible to our Sandy-impacted homeowners and businesses – to reconstruct, rehabilitate and elevate homes, and to get over hurdles for our small businesses to get up and running again,” Gov. Chris Christie said.

More than 50 percent of the funding will be dedicated to low-to-moderate-income households. Additionally, 80 percent of the funds will be dedicated to the nine most heavily impacted counties in the state, which includes Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union.

Of the approximately 5,277 homeowner FEMA applicants in Toms River's 08753 zip code, the median income range is $0 to $245,000. The average FEMA inspected damage assessment for those homes was estimated at $17,660, according to FEMA Housing Assistance Data for Sandy. 

Of the 337 homeowner FEMA applicants in the township's 08755 zip code, the median income range is $52,000 to $83,000. The average FEMA damage assessment of those homes was $821. 

The Action Plan has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval. Once approved, the state will provide a detailed outline to guide spending.

“These programs have been carefully, but quickly designed to fill the unmet needs faced by our residents to rebuild in a safer, more enduring way, to strengthen our impacted local economies going into this summer, and to help preserve the unique character of our shore communities as we’ve known them,” Christie said.

To view the Action Plan, visit the NJ Department of Community Affairs’ website at www.nj.gov/dca.