Jersey City gets $989K grant to study environmental impact of Sandy

By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal
September 10, 2013

Jersey City has been awarded nearly $1 million in a federal grant to assist with environmental investigations related to superstorm Sandy, the city announced.

The $989,428 Social Services Block Grant, which is allocated to the city's Department of Health and Human Services, will provide funding for the city to monitor the health impacts of Sandy, particularly via blood lead screening.

Following the Oct. 29 superstorm, which left much of Hudson County flooded and without power for days, concern grew that children could be exposed to lead due to damages in older homes and outdoor environments. Jersey City continues to offer free blood lead level testing in the Child Immunization Clinic at 360 Martin Luther King Dr.

Jersey City Mayor Fulop said the city is working with state and federal officials to develop ways to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters, "but equally important ... is understanding the health impacts a storm like Sandy has on our population so we can best assist our residents.?

The funding was awarded from the federal government to municipalities that suffered severe flooding from Sandy. As part of the grant, Jersey City's health department will conduct blood lead testing, case management for affected families, environmental investigations such as soil testing and home inspections.

Officials said that the city is establishing a grants office so that larger and more competitive grants can be pursued.

?We recognize that we cannot do everything with tax dollars and as a government we need to become more diligent in leveraging federal, state and county as well as private grant dollars,? Fulop said. ?This is an example of how we are moving in that direction.?

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