“They can give me the money right now,” Desiderio joked as he talked about how the city would put the money to use.

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Jeff Chiesa, R-N.J., announced that $13.9 million had been set aside for Sandy relief grants for Sea Isle City, Asbury Park and Bradley Beach. The grants were provided by the Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency’s Public Assistance grant program.  

Desiderio said Sea Isle would use the funding to replenish beaches across the length of the community and strengthen dunes damaged in the storm. The money would also help repay funds used to repair city properties damaged by the October 2012 storm.

“It’s across the entire community. Some in the north end, the center and the south end (of the beach),” he said.

The dunes, Desiderio said, “did what they were supposed to do.” They protected the city, and now they must be rebuilt.

Desiderio said the money was appreciated and much-needed.

“Our beaches are thin to begin with, and we tried to shore them up before the storm,” he said.

The hurricane damaged numerous buildings, including City Hall and the police station on JFK Boulevard.

“The city has fully recovered, with the exception of City Hall and the police station, which we lost in the storm,” Desiderio said.

To mark the storm’s anniversary, he said he plans to hold a thank-you ceremony honoring the city workers and volunteers who took part in the storm preparations and recovery process.

The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the school gymnasium.

Meanwhile, the city is developing plans for a new City Hall that will be built where the police station sits. Construction should begin by spring.

The current City Hall site will likely be sold, Desiderio said.

“New Jersey communities that felt Superstorm Sandy’s impact showcased tremendous resilience while having to spend money, time and energy rebuilding,”Menendez said in a statement.

Chiesa added, “These resources help our communities continue recouping the substantial costs incurred during and after Superstorm Sandy. I commend FEMA for their continued attention to the New Jersey recovery and providing our cities and towns with the resources they desperately need.”

In January, President Barack Obama signed the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental Appropriations bill into law, bringing the total Sandy aid enacted by Congress to $60.2 billion. The funding package included federal aid to help homeowners, businesses and communities recover, and resources to rebuild coastal, transportation and water infrastructure.

Contact Trudi Gilfillian:

609-463-6716

TGilfillian@pressofac.com