116 Days After Sandy First FEMA Trailer Is Delivered To Private Lot In Union Beach
On Friday February 22 the first FEMA trailer delivered to a private lot in the wake of the storm became a reality.
116 days after Superstorm Sandy ripped through Union Beach and the Bayshore, the FEMA trailer, which at times seemed to be impossible, became reality.
Donna and Glenn Cottrell and their family were displaced after the storm that left thousands scrambling for a new way of life in the Bayshore area after Sandy.
With 6 feet of water overtaking their home, the Cottrell's sought shelter in one of their relatives homes in Middletown. Immediately following the storm, with help from family and friends, the muck out of their home began.
Priceless memories and belongings were taken to shelter, while other belongings were placed at their curb.
Soon thereafter their journey to attain a FEMA trailer began.
With countless trips to Union Beach Town Hall, the UB building department and to the FEMA satellite office located at town hall, the Cottrell's became regulars. The Cottrell's tireless effort and commitment to seek out the available government resources, specifically FEMA trailers, is a testament to their resolve. Plenty of hurdles and stumbling blocks were placed in their path. They did not waiver and they continued their pursuit of their first goal, to return home to Union Beach.
Now that the trailer is placed and they can come back home and the pursuit of their ultimate goal begins; to rebuild their home and help this resilient blue collar town get back on its feet again.
The Cottrell's wanted to give a special Thank You to all who have assisted them in this four month journey, and specifically Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith, Union Beach Code Officer Bobby Burlew, FEMA representative Ruby Bailey and Manager of JCP&L's Union Beach line, John Miller
Noreen Staples
10:43 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Anyone know how many trailers are in Port Monmouth?
Cathy Ramirez
3:01 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
I just moved to the Fort.....no trailers here.
Row 15
3:01 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Ask your mayor
Noreen Staples
4:46 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
@cathy, are there a lot of families there?
K M N S
12:27 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Bobby Parsells is the UB code officer. Please give credit where credit is due. He and his wife Kathy have worked tirelessly to help the Sandy victims!!
Pat
3:26 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I'm disgusted that it took that long to get a temporary trailer to this family and wonder how many others are still waiting. Why the hold up?
My best wishes to the Cottrell Family. I hope your home is rebuilt very soon.
Bill Heller
4:28 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
CONGRATULATIONS to the Cottrell family and way to go Mayor Smith and Bob Burlew....and everyone else involved. But I have to say, FEMA sure dragged their feet on this as with a lot of other stuff. It is one clunly agency, even considering the scope of the damage.
G. P.
5:29 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Shame on FEMA, 116 days later!!!! UNACCEPTABLE!!!! Where has all the money that was collected through the telethons and fundraisers gone, these people need help badly!! I hope this is the start of rebuilding for the victims...we need to keep praying for them.
Jeannie Gallagher Donnelly
9:34 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
116 DAYS? Really? What an embarrassment. I thought Christie was on top of this stuff? .
NJarhead
10:38 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
FEMA is federal. Shouldn't you be blaming Obama (like Bush was blamed for their failures after Katrina)?
LGA
10:23 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
If Union Beach was a 3rd world nation they would have help US Government even before the storm ended. The US and other countries would have billions of aid dollars and supplies in no time.
NJarhead
10:38 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Only if we had a vested interest in them.
See: Bill Clinton's response to Rwanda.
union beacg
7:34 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
what about the other homeless people in union beach ?
Michael Vail
9:23 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
116 days? It is absolutely inconceivable to me how this could possibly take 116 days. Secondly, please tell me that this is not the only unit that has been delivered to the area. What a disgrace.
Cathy Aumack-Bandy
8:32 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
We all know that if were occurring in New Orleans, or some other places, the medeia would be screaming, people would be riotinging and politicians would be yelping. But... Well, maybe this is the wakeup call people need; if only they knew. Keyporter living in Florida I must say that there is little coverage of the ongoing trauma and need for assistance.
Ralph Long
8:41 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wher are all the other trailers for Union Beach residents? and other town residents also. Still sitting in the Parking Lot of Great Adventure i'm guessing. FEMA claims they can't put trailers in town because the whole shore area is a flood zone, Got news FEMA everywhere is and has been a flood zone, not only that FEMA put temporary housing in areas that are below sea level. But as always New Jersey helps all others in need after disasters but we get crapped on when we need help. I use to be DAE with FEMA and they really have changed for the worse and not the same fema i worked for.