NJ flood victims offered buyouts instead of payouts to rebuild

NJ flood victims offered buyouts instead of payouts to rebuild / August 16, 2023 / NBC

By Carolyn Manno

On the eve of the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida’s widespread destruction in the tri-state, one of the flood-plagued communities is being told to pay for their own repairs or move out.

Manville, New Jersey was heavily flooded back in 2021 by the remnants of Ida. A group of about 80 homeowners who would normally get federal money to repair their homes are finding out that is no longer happening.

Instead of a payout to rebuild their homes, the state is offering them a buyout.

Eric Vaughn, a single father of two young sons, has been living in an RV outside of his home in the two years since Ida blew through. He’s in the middle of putting their house back together after flood waters came several feet up the walls.

“[The boys] ask about their house every once in a while,” he says.

Vaughn had been waiting to start in hopes of receiving federal aid from the state designated for repairs and elevating homes. Two weeks ago, he received an email stating that aid is not coming.

“Eric’s story is so sad, especially because he was playing by the state’s rules and the state has changed the rules on him,” Meghan Mertyris, with the New Jersey Organizing Project, said.