Projected Sandy Costs Doubled in Ridgewood

Originally , the financial damage caused by Super Storm Sandy has doubled, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said at a special public meeting on Friday.

According to a report in The Ridgewood News, the manager said the new damage estimate is up to $1.2 million. An emergency appropriation to cover the costs is expected with Ridgewood's budget currently "in a precarious position," the paper reported.

Gabbert, on vacation this week, did not respond to requests for comment posed by Patch.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn said all power-related damage is expected to be covered in full by FEMA, with other 75 percent of other costs potentially paid for by the federal government. He said Gabbert estimated a potential bill of "several hundred thousand dollars" related to the local cleanup costs, including worker overtime.

Gabbert previously stated the costs related to Sandy will strain the 2013 budget. They'll be among the first bills to be paid, he said at the Nov. 7 meeting.

Aronsohn, meanwhile, also disputed a recent Star-Ledger article that through use of aerial photos claimed Ridgewood (as well as neighboring towns Glen Rock, Wyckoff and Midland Park) did not have any buildings suffer structural damage in the storm.

Dozens of village buildings sustained damage as a result of fallen trees, he said.