Brick Flood Victims Vent Frustrations To Murphy (Video)

BRICK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy was met by frustrated residents in Brick Friday morning who were seeking answers and help as they continue to clean up from flash floods that filled homes with water and forced evacuations of more than 100 homes earlier this week. The encounter was captured on video.

Murphy toured homes in Greenbriar I, the 55-and-over community that had the highest concentration of damage in Brick. A dozen homes were damaged in neighboring Howell and several homes were damaged in Wall in the deluge that also caused sinkholes, damaged two bridges in Howell and undermined roads in some spots. The area received nearly 8 inches of rain in about 2-1/2 hours.

The Greenbriar I cleanup, assisted by dozens of student volunteers from Brick's two high schools, has left piles of belongings curbside and the township's Department of Public Works has been making multiple trips to remove the debris.

But on Friday, homeowners peppered Murphy with questions about how to get help paying for the repairs now needed for their homes. Brick Police Chief James Riccio, along with the Ocean County Board of Freeholders and Murphy, all declared states of emergency, a necessary step in getting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"We're doing everything we can, at the county level, the state level, the federal level," Murphy told Greenbriar residents, according to an NJ.com report and video.

"Our insurance companies are shooting us down," one resident told the governor.

"Utility failure, I understand, is the critical thing ...then our insurance companies must pay," another resident said to Murphy. "So maybe there's some way you could help."

Here is the video:

Brick Township Mayor John G. Ducey has been urging flood victims to document every bit of damage and to get cost estimates and report them to the township as part of the effort to get help from FEMA. Because Greenbriar I is not in a flood plain, residents did not have flood insurance, and typical homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flooding.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, whose district covers Howell and Wall, said that under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, the governor of an affected state must formally ask the president to issue an emergency or major disaster declaration for a state to receive federal assistance.

Currently, local, state, federal, and volunteer organizations are working hard to complete the Preliminary Damage Assessment to determine loss and recovery needs. Based on these findings, the Governor will then submit a request for federal assistance to the president.

Ducey said in addition to the efforts to get FEMA help, there are other efforts to assistance. A GoFundme campaign has been set up by the community association to help all of the owners with the costs. Click here to donate. The Red Cross also has been assisting the flood victims.

Read more:

• 105 Homes Still Evacuated As Brick Flooding Cleanup Starts
• Brick Mayor Warns Flood Victims Beware Of Contractor Fraudsters
• Brick Flood Victims Urged To Report Losses To Township

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com

Follow us on Facebook. Click here and give us a like.

Photos via Gov. Phil Murphy's official Facebook page