FEMA Denies Reimbursement for Store Ransacked by Firefighters

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will not pay a New Jersey town that reimbursed an Army Navy store $185,000 after volunteer firefighters took goods in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

FEMA has told New Jersey officials that some of the items taken in Seaside Heights were not for legitimate emergency use.

The town is appealing the Nov. 8 decision, which was first reported by The Star-Ledger of Newark.

Volunteer firefighters broke into the store as Sandy was hitting New Jersey’s coast in 2012. FEMA says that in addition to boots, flashlights and other emergency gear, missing items included exotic knives, night-vision goggles, shot glasses, Betty Boop plates and GI Joe statues.

Seaside Heights says firefighters took only emergency supplies and looters later took the other items.