Christie Announces Plans To Distribute New Wave Of Federal Sandy Aid

KEANSBURG, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - More help could soon be on the way for New Jersey residents still trying to rebuild more than 15 months after superstorm Sandy hit.

Gov. Chris Christie was in Keansburg on Tuesday to lay out plans for a new round of federal funding.

As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, Port Monmouth resident Antoinette Chenoweth said the process to try to get federal assistance has been frustrating.

"Waiting list, waiting list denial. I got two denials, two waiting lists and I'm not rich," said Chenoweth. "We're being overlooked and that's what we're upset about."

"I'm really not getting help on anything. And, again, we're going on 16 months," Keansburg resident Kathy Oliva told Smith.

"I get it and what I'm saying is we're doing the best we can to go as quickly as we can to get it done," Gov. Christie told homeowners Tuesday in Keansburg.

The governor touted a second round of federal funding to the tune of $1.46 billion to help Sandy victims. Christie promised nearly half of the money would go towards housing.

"As we move forward in this process, we have to have patience with each other and we have to have patience with this process," Christie said.

The proposed spending includes nearly $400 million to move roughly 3,000 homeowners off waiting lists so they can be approved for rebuilding grants, Smith reported.

Three days worth of public hearings on the second round of proposed funding will be held next week.

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