The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently reviewing Little Falls’ disaster risk alleviation blueprints. FEMA has had the plans for about six weeks now, according to Township Administrator William Wilk. Little Falls officials expect to hear if the outline is sufficient within the next few weeks, Wilk said, adding that it could be longer if FEMA plan reviewers are backlogged.
Before reaching FEMA, the all hazards mitigation plan was sent to state police/state Office of Emergency Management for assessment. Wilk said that happened in August after Tetra Tech - an international environmental engineering company - completed the data gathering phase.
Council President Paul Huggins said the governing body looks forward to having an approved all hazards mitigation plan.
"Many residents are impatient, we want this done yesterday, but it’s a step forward," he said.
Mayor Eugene Kulick said the plan is something the township must have. Kulick said the document encompasses proactive steps to lessen the threat of catastrophe, such as flooding.
"It’ll work in some areas, where it will help somebody out if it happens."
Huggins said one of the plan’s benefits is increasing the town’s ability to get assistance state and federal disaster funds. The council president said that ability could be improved with the $300,000 capital improvement fund the township just opened with the profits from a land sale to Montclair State University.
With the all hazards plan, Little Falls can try to obtain funds to lower local disaster risk, such as home foundation raising packages or buyouts, Wilk said. Practically speaking, Little Falls has to weigh which grants to seek, he said, adding that the aforesaid $300,000 is not much for hunting handouts, since most require a 25 percent or so match.
"There’s a lot of great ideas," he said, "but, I don’t think we can keep someone busy eight hours a day writing grant applications for everything under the sun."
Wilk noted the capital improvement funds, by standard budgetary rules, cannot cover a full time grant writer, or any other salaried position.
Mayor Eugene Kulick also said the abovementioned sum is paltry for the intended purpose.
"That’s peanuts. I don’t think that’s much. I think it’s a band aid approach. If you had $1 million, you could do something."
Kulick said drawing on town surplus for matching grants is not pragmatic, noting Little Falls has little spare money.
"Frankly, where do you get the surplus? You get surplus if you have a lot of ratables. Unless you have a lot of ratables coming in, I don’t know how you do it."
