Nine months ago Richard Drake opened a letter notifying him of a 55-fold increase in his flood insurance premium even though he and his wife, Sandra, raised their Union Beach home three feet above federal requirements.

Since then, Drake feared the $33,000-a-year bill wouldforce his family to walk away from the home they had just rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy.

But that fear was assuaged last Friday, when Drake said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez called him directly and told him the problem had finally been resolved.

“On Friday night, we slept better than we have in a long time,” Drake said. “We can finally rest and sleep easy and know this nightmare has come to an end.”

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