Brick Councilman to Feds: Allow Early Flood Zone Appeals
Federal rule calls for appeals only after next round of maps are released
Brick Township Councilman John Ducey will introduce a resolution at the next township council meeting calling on the federal government to allow residents to oppose their designation on flood zone maps before the prescribed public comment period begins this summer.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released advisory flood zone maps shortly after Superstorm Sandy struck. The maps have greatly increased the number of Brick residents whose homes are in flood zones and, combined with a decision made last summer to de-subsidize the federal flood insurance program, will require those residents to either raise their homes or face five-figure annual flood insurance bills. Homes in flood zones with mortgages are required to carry the insurance.
Though many expect the flood zones – especially the number of residents in 'V,' or velocity zones, which require costly piling foundations to be installed – to be scaled back when preliminary maps are released this summer, Ducey said the federal government should allow appeals now.
There is already a public comment and appeal process once the preliminary maps are released, but that might be too late for some residents who need to rebuild their homes.
Compounding the issue, Ducey holds, is that Gov. Chris Christie has adopted the advisory maps, thus requiring them to be used by those who want to rebuild, even though they could change in the future.
"In the meantime, if people want to rebuild before that, they are stuck with the current flood zone designations," said Ducey, in an e-mail to Brick Patch.
That has left residents in a lurch, either having to spend the extra money to comply with the advisory designations, or put off rebuilding their homes until after the preliminary maps come out this summer, Ducey said.
"Neither option is fair to our residents," he said.
Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, however, called the resolution "political theater."
"I think what the councilman is missing is the power of a municipality of 85,000 people," said Acropolis, who believes the municipality as a whole has more power to oppose the maps rather than individual residents. "As soon as the maps are introduced in August, it starts an 18 month process where the municipality, along with residents, can get things overturned."
Acropolis said the township will have a formalized process to oppose the maps and help residents file "Letters of Map Adjustments," or LOMAs, as the federal process calls for.
"I think that anyone who has been involved in the process knows we have been fighting the V zones, and fighting to get this changed," said Acropolis, who accused Ducey of favoring the resolution for political reasons.
"This is the first peep I've heard from Councilman Ducey on this," said Acropolis. "Last week, they tried to slip through an ordinance that would put a hardship on many, many people in Brick Township."
Acropolis was referring to the township demolition and debris ordinance debate from the Feb. 5 council meeting, where the council's Business and Finance Committee, of which Ducey is a member, initially favored placing liens on homes that were slated to be demolished under a federal program until Acropolis strongly objected, and the council unanimously voted in favor of a different funding mechanism.
Ducey said in his e-mail, however, that the resolution was squarely aimed at helping residents rebuild, and support for his efforts has come from New Jersey's two U.S. senators.
"For many middle class homeowners, especially those who just lost everything to Sandy, these additional costs will simply be too much to bear," said Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, in a joint letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Families would be forced from their homes, resulting in gutted neighborhoods, and threatening the existence of some communities."
Lautenberg and Menendez also requested a meeting with Fugate. (The full text of the letter is attached to this story near the photo box at the top-right of the story.)
Ducey said the resolution is the first of its kind in the country.
"If they are allowed to appeal immediately they can have their zone determined and know exactly what they need to do to rebuild," he said.
Glenn
9:22 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
FEMA is just a no win situation. The mayor says wait 18 months and then appeal and acuses Duecy of grandstanding. Well mayor, who's going to pay my rent while I still have to pay my real estate taxes on land I won't be back to for 2 years?
Oh, and thank you Brick for making me pay taxes on a home that isn't liveable for the first two quarters before adjusting my assessment. It's nice of Ducey to try, but we know it isn't going to happen. If anything work over the damn insurance companies for our money that was coming in two weeks and now is over 14 weeks and they lie to you every week and say just one more week.
Vincent Pischettola
10:49 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Please also sign this and share. Petition the White House now against the FEMA maps
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reevaluate-new-fema-advisory-base-flood-elevation-maps-help-us-rebuild-not-shore-not-push-us-out/tZYxj3V5
Bob
10:52 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
grow up acropolis. the world does not revolve around you and anyone who is willing to help I appreciate. If we can get ahead of the curve by even 1 month that's 1 month sooner I can get back into my house.
Floodgate
10:53 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Www.stopfemanow.com
Chief Wahoo
10:59 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ducey can't even tell Acrapolis what to do. Now he thinks he can tell the Feds. Ha Ha Ha !!!
Bricktucky is still the greatest show on Earth.
Linda DeSantis
12:09 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Linda Marie
I'm from North Jersey and I actively look for construction companies to come work on rebuilding the "Jersey Shore". I found a reliable, well respected company that does heavy highway road construction, sewer, water & gas lines, rebuild homes, basically build top to bottom. They work for state, county & private.They are ready willing and able to help rebuild asap. Please contact me for further information: bella1960-95@hotmail.com
bricklakeriv
12:20 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ducey is right on this topic. Many residents did not even have flooding and FEMA maps indicate they must raise their houses. Allowing homeowners input sooner versus later is better. Hope Mr. Mayor gets on board with Ducey instead of all the political rhetoric.
Chief Wahoo
12:33 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
you need to realize and understand the FEMA Maps were coming whether there was a Sandy or not......It just amazes me that no one in government, state or local , said a word to warn us, the sitting duck taxpayers .....makes you wonder why ???
Thanks Sandy
1:44 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
if communication and response from FEMA is sporadic and unreliable at best now. I cant wait to see their response time for individual property assessments. Give me a break. I understand that everyone is anxtious but a prudent approach is really the better way to go. I rather have the power in numbers represented.
Bob Short
12:55 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
If you can't afford to wait 18 months, take a look at - NJDEP Coastal Blue Acres Program
www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/blue.html
If you walk from your home, let the Government buy your land. no one will ever be able to build there again. you will have cash in hand to start over with out all the years of running around and stress that you are currently going through.
jack cee
4:21 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Raise the property taxes? If anything brick homeowners should get a deduction.I could have got 1 mil for my house before Sandy,now I could maybe get 700 and I had little damage and no flooding.1 house from the ocean...
jack cee
4:21 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Anybody know what street that is in the picture?
Daniel Nee
5:32 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I believe that was Paul Jones in the Dec. 27 storm.
bernie
4:24 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
email saveourcommunity2013@gmail.com
bernie
4:27 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
^^^^^^^ request to be added to our list
Keith
4:36 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Mayor is correct. Ducey sentiments may be in the right place, but they are useless. That is why they will have a public comment period after the maps released. It's jsut how things roll in government. Don't you think the Mayor would have taken that step as well for both the town and himself personally? Remember, his home was wrecked to. Regardless, the Federal government will no longer fund the flood insurance offered and our rates are going to rise tremendously. I say add a huge tax on cigarettes and alcohol in NJ and let the state fund it. Please bombard this comment with useless banter. Easy for me to say as I dont do either, but I may in the future if these zones dont get pulled back!
BB
10:20 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Brick should also be doing this in preparation:
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/ocean-city-general-news/34707-ocean-city-looking-for-engineering-firms-to-consult-with-over-fema-maps.html
John C
4:27 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
How laughable! Mr Ducey is hitching his wagon to two of the most useless and ineffective Senators in Washington, one who should have retired (again) many years ago and another who is currently under investigation for some highly questionable and inappropriate activities.
George
11:55 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Are you jealous John since you got dumped by the taxpayers of Brick.
John C
7:54 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
You have the wrong John C George but you will see me up there some day since I take serving my community seriously and can surely do a better job than these four. They are clearly in over their heads and are dragging this town back to the old ways of pandering to the State Democrats that flushed NJ down the drain and had sitting council members sitting in clear conflict of interest as Commissioners on both the MUA and Housing Authority.
George
2:43 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
John C if I were you I would stick to running the jewelry store and stay out of politics before it puts you out of business.
John C
4:51 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Threatening local business persons just like a good little community organizer. Your dear leader would be proud! I am not the John C you are referring to, but I will be sure to purchase something at his store to be sure losers like you look like the fools that you are.
judith Gass
4:36 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Boy we can get together to change Federal Fema maps , But we couldn't do anything about the Parkway taken every tree up to fence lines, we who are near the Parkway feel like we live on the turnpike now.. If you like to live on the water FIX YOUR house up and Live there you own the property , and if your worried about another storm then I guess you will have to keep that in your mind if you decide to stay or leave, Perhaps you need to take your chances or cut your loses. And don't worry about Flood insurance , NO BODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FORCE THAT ON YOU , and I don't think that FEMA SHOULD HAVE THAT POWER, it should be house by house not by how many houses are flood compliant..