FEMA Pays Hightstown Nearly $190,000 for Hurricane-Related Expenses

Hightstown received nearly $190,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the largest payout the borough has received for Hurricane Irene expense reimbursement from the agency.

The borough is still determining what the reimbursement exactly applies to and expects additional funds from the agency, said Borough Administrator Michael Theokas.

Earlier this year the borough received nearly $50,000 from FEMA, primarily for immediate remediation and removal of branches and trees following the storm, Theokas said. Unlike the insurance company, which reimburses Hightstown dollar for dollar, FEMA only pays 75 percent.

Following the storm, the council passed $1.6 million in emergency appropriations and . The initial costs included approximately $500,000 in the police department, $250,000 in the water department, $200,000 in the sewer plant, $150,000 in public works, $100,000 in the fire department and $100,000 for administrative and miscellaneous costs.

The destructive August 2011 storm , flooding out Borough Hall, the police department and several Main Street establishments.

Since the storm there has been ongoing discussions on the future location of the police department and Borough Hall.

A special meeting was held on May 31 where residents and several organizations . The discussion was divided with some residents hoping to see the building end up downtown, and many organizations, including Downtown Hightstown, Greater Hightstown East Windsor Improvement Project (GHEWIP) and the Historic Preservation Committee, urged council to relocate to an area that was not prone to flooding.

The Borough council passed a resolution June 4 stating “Borough Hall is best located in the central part of town rather than the outskirts,” but added all locations options “should be reviewed and analyzed.”

No final decisions on the location have been determined and the borough anticipates more reimbursements for hurricane-related expenses.

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