In Brick, Fear Over Rebuilding Costs Follows Flood Map Adoption
Mayor: block grants, hazard mitigation grants could eventually come, but announcement won't hasten rebuilding effort
A home off Sunset Boulevard in Brick destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.
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Governor Chris Christie's announcement that the state would adopt advisory flood maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help in the quest for federal aid to help Brick residents rebuild, though the prospect of hastening the overall rebuilding process may not come to fruition, Brick's mayor said.
Following Christie's announcement last week that the state would adopt proposed maps that mean tough elevation and foundation regulations for coastal residents whose homes are in flood zones, trepidation about five-figure house raising bills began to boil over among locals.
Those who have mortgages are required to carry flood insurance, and flood insurance premiums could increase to as much as $30,000 per year, even for a modest house, if a home is not elevated under the new requirements – and outfitted with special piling foundations if they are located in velocity, or 'V' zones.
The move to adopt the advisory maps instead of waiting for them to become finalized, the governor said, was to help spur rebuilding, though some residents whose homes were minimally damaged – and, thus, ineligible for $30,000 grants to help with house raising – saw the move as a financial blow that could cost them their homes as flood insurance rates will rise before grant money becomes available.
The reality of the ramifications of adopting of the maps could lie somewhere in the middle.
"If I lived in a 'V' zone that was way up in a lagoon or not on the open water, I personally would wait until August or September until the new maps out," said Brick Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.
The difference between residing in an 'A' versus 'V' flood zone under the new maps has to do with strict foundational requirements: a piling foundation is required in 'V' zones while traditional cinder block or cement foundations are acceptable in 'A' zones, though elevation requirements must be met in both.
Acropolis said the Brick Township council will still have to adopt the new requirements for the township to be eligible for its share of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding as well as Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMG) funding, both of which can filter down to individual residents to allow them to raise their homes.
That's where Christie's announcement could end up benefiting both year-round and part-time residents in Brick.
"The biggest takeaway I got from that speech was that the governor was very adamant on CDBG money coming, and sooner than later," said Acropolis. "Instead of two years from now, it could come six to nine months from now."
On Monday night, Congress approved a $50 billion Sandy aid bill, which will fund both grant programs.
Acropolis said year-round residents will be eligible for the CDBG funding while all residents will be eligible for HMG funding.
But despite the prospect of financial assistance, which will be available to a wide swath of people, rebuilding cannot commence for many until the funding is actually in hand. Acropolis said those who raise their homes before grant money comes in will not be eligible for reimbursement since they already paid for their homes to be raised on their own.
"If it's a primary residence, the CDBG money will come out and that will be able to help them," said Acropolis. "But they're not going to give everybody in Brick $50,000."
"I still think this is a money grab by the federal government for a flood insurance plan that is upside down by billion of dollars."
Some details of the rebuilding process, as well as the grant funding, are beginning to emerge.
When grant funding does arrive, it will not be township officials who will have the say as to which residents or which neighborhoods receive the money first. That will most likely be determined, Acropolis said, by volunteer committees of local residents organized by FEMA.
It was not clear how those volunteers would be chosen or who would officially appoint them.
Acropolis said he favored enacting a volunteer rebuilding advisory committee to work on those issues to get ahead of the game.
But the actual rebuilding process will be measured in years once it starts.
Aside from many residents simply not having the money to rebuild, many will want to wait in order to be eligible for grant funding, and if one's home was damaged 51 percent or more, building permits cannot be issued for repairs until the home complies with the new height and foundation requirements. That will leave many residents in a catch 22 situation, waiting until the FEMA maps potentially change, or until grant money becomes available.
Neither will happen overnight.
"If someone doesn't have the money to raise their house now, they have to wait for the hazard mitigation grant or the CDBG," said Acropolis.
For those who are ready to rebuild or repair their homes, however, there was some relief from state Coastal Area Facilities Review Act laws – an additional state permit requirement in coastal areas.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has said that if one's home is being reconstructed in the same footprint without any expansion, there is an exemption available. Likewise, an exemption applies to homes that are being raised, as long as they are not being enlarged and do not involve changing or grading a beach dune.
Criticism of Christie has mainly zeroed in on the administration's adoption of the maps instead of fighting them. Many residents have said the maps are unfair, and include unreasonable height requirements, and place residents in 'V' zones when they do not actually live on the water and are not exposed to pounding waves.
"The governor made no mention of challenging the zones," said Ron Jampel, a Brick resident from the township's Shore Acres who has teamed up with other local residents, including those from Lavallette and Point Pleasant Beach, in a grass-roots campaign to challenge the maps.
The group, called "Save Our Communities," has amassed a list of about 5,000 people through an e-mail list. It started, Jampel said, as an effort among Shore Acres residents to get together on quotes from house raising companies. But it has expanded into a wider effort to draw political attention to the effects of the map crisis on local families and communities.
"We have attempted to contact Governor Christie through calls, faxes and emails so we can better explain the shortfalls in the $60.4 billion bill and more recently to let him know why his executive order was very short sided," said Jampel, in an e-mail. "In fact, the executive order will cause seniors and middle class families to become homeless."
"The misdesignation of most of Brick and a significant amount of other waterfront communities ... as a 'V' zone from 'A' will unnecessarily cause tremendous financial harm to residents of those areas," he added.
Those designations could still change, despite the state having adopted them.
The advisory maps will not be finalized until sometime this summer, and areas could be redesignated in between now and then. There will also be a public comment period and, presumably, political wrangling before final adoption.
Then, flood insurance rates will begin to rise for those who have not raised their homes, eventually getting to the full, unsubsidized rate, which will be phased in after four years.
"There are a lot of people who are going to be hurt, not only financially but emotionally and psychologically," said Acropolis.
~
Editor's note: Ron Jampel can be reached by e-mailing saveourcommunity2013@gmail.com.
Floodgate
7:46 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Where on the web can we sign onto the " save our communities"?
Ron Jampel
9:00 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
SAVEOURCOMMUNITY2013@gmail.com
Martin
8:11 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I googled it and only got similar petitions in other states. Please publish the website address ASAP on all shore editions of Patch. Several thousand Toms River, Lavalette and Seaside people will sign it if you do that. "United we stand, divided we drown!"
Kim E
9:05 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Brick will also sign!
Daniel Nee
8:14 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
There is no website. He runs an email list.
lisad
8:16 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Regardless of whether Christie had to make a move to get funding sooner rather then later he has sold us out. To accept putting properties on land and on back lagoons in V zones is a crime. The map should have been questioned. As I have posted many time on these different articles I am at 8'6 for the most of my property with only mechanicals below and the only damage i sustained were to those mechanicals...now to be told i have to be up to 11' to have reasonable rates...that just blows.
Donna C
8:31 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
My home on a lagoon is 8.75 in a A zone and my neighbor directly on the other side of the same lagoon is now a Z both of us with wave action. It makes no sense how they came up with this except that the other side had more homes damaged because they are older on slabs/crawl spaces. I am already on up on pilings. Except for a foot of water in the garage we were dry. It does blow, you buy your dream home then have to give it away.
Donna C
8:38 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
My last comment I meant V zone not Z, lol
Martin
8:17 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Please publish his e-mail address so we can join the movement.
Daniel Nee
9:18 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
It is included at the end of the article.
the bulldog
12:33 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I guess this guy doesn't read your articles dan, since you already included it lol
Art D
8:17 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Something to consider now that the $50 Billion aid package has been approved in Congress. The $16 Billion that is to be for Community Development Block Grants is not all coming to NJ. The bill allows that money to be used for any declared emergency in any state from 2011 to 2013. It's estimated that only $3.9 Billion will make it's way to NJ/NY. When you consider that almost 350,000 homes were damaged or destroyed the net payout for each home would be around $11,150.00. Not all that great considering it may cost over $60,000 to raise one house. If ICC doesn't come through or the HMGP funds come in around the same as CDBG folks may have to walk away from their mortgages. I hope our elected officials understand the scope of what's happening here. Something tells me they don't.
shorecorruption
8:22 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
You will get more done and faster by not doing anything to your homes Wait and see,don't do anything.
WMS826
8:20 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Get the dumpsters ready...a lot of small bungalows going to the dump, damaged or not it seems.
lisad
8:31 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
something even funnier...pilot drive in baywood was under four feet of water for three days as was long point drive and both are currently in A zones per the new map..so typical of our government...yeah Go Obama!!! asswipe
Art D
8:50 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Stop blaming Bush for everything. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979. Jimmy Carter was president back then. He was a Democrat.
Sue
9:05 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
In the ensuing years under Reagan and 2 Bushes, FEMA grew into what today is "the disaster after the disaster."
Art D
9:14 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@Sue-just a little tongue in cheek humor on my part. Sorry. I could care less who was president. FEMA is a mess due to mismanagement. Now they want to balance the FEMA budget on the backs of the middle class. That should not be allowed to happen. They end the subsidies for flood insurance but continue subsidies to Big Oil and other energy producers. End those subsidies for 1 year and you can balance the FEMA budget.
Ron Jampel
8:59 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
saveourcommunity2013@gmail.com
Art D
9:04 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thanks.
Art D
9:06 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thanks. I live in Shore Acres too.
Jaime B
9:08 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Just wondering if there is a place to sign up for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding as well as Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMG) funding? I know other towns have a place to do this online, but I have not seen this for Brick. Just want to make sure we do not miss the deadline or anything like that since it is much needed funding, especially for people that do not qualify for ICC grants.
Daniel Nee
9:19 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
http://brick.patch.com/articles/funds-to-help-brick-storm-victims-are-available
Thanks Sandy
9:32 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
my home in brick is considered my second home although I pay taxes just like everyone else I find that im not eligible for CDBG grant money if its available. Why Not? I pay my share without question and use 25% of the services of the town. Not Fair at all
Jaime B
9:32 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ok - I will reach out to Rehabco & go down to the town hall, as suggested. I just do not want to miss the opportunity, as it will be the determining factor with regard to whether or not I can afford to stay in my house. Lots of questions, A LOT of misinformation of there, and it is difficult to navigate through all of these new rules/regulations without having a panic attack. I thought living through the storm in our house was the most stressful event I have ever experienced in my life. Now, with all of the rebuild and new regs, looking back, the hurricane was a piece of cake. This is a full time job in itself!
Ron Jampel
9:14 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
If you have been affected by Sandy or care about some Senior Citizen or Middle Class family who has, please take 5 minutes out of your schedule and let Christie know that you now are also in support of Save Our Community 2013 efforts by calling (609-292-6000), faxing (609 777 2922) and/or emailing (need to work through the governor's link: http://nj.gov/governor/
- after clicking on "Contact:" just choose "Housing" as topic he has no link for Sandy)
We all know the issues as they are vast. Here is just an example of an email sent recently be a member:
"There is a critical issue that needs to be addressed regarding FEMA rezoning. This issue is not arguing the height requirement. It is addressing incorrect zoning. Many communities have been zoned as "V" zone that will in no way ever see 3 foot waves. This invalid zoning is requiring many folks to utilize pilings rather then be able to use normal cement or cinderblock foundations with appropriate flood vents. This difference is astronomical as to the effect it may have on many regarding rebuilding vs walking away from their property.Would you please investigate the potential of an immediate state appeal to the zoning assignments since it is quite obvious if you look at the map, that it was not done in any accurate scientific manner.
Thank You"
Art D
9:17 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@Jaime B-head down to Brick Municipal Building and go downstairs to the building department. Those guys are the best down there and can help you out. I know they have a list there for the HMGP funding. They can most likely point you in the direction of the CDBG sign-up as well.
Jaime B
9:34 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thanks, Art! Going to head down there this week, for sure.
John Zingis
9:19 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Everything that I've researched to date about V and A Zones and the $30,000 grants amount to a hoax on our community.
Say you get the 30K, wonderful. What about the extravigant costs to reconstruct your foundation to meet current flood standards (100K) + the acual cost to raise the home (provided on a case by case basis) + what about the soil conditions under the existing foundation (burried wetland / muck soils) + some home are not design to hurricane standards and will notr withstand wind shear when elevated some 4 - 6 feet depending on where your home is located.
Hang on fellow citizens. It's merely an amount of time when we will all de driven out and only the super rich will be able to afford living around here. May God bless us all.
Elayna C
10:06 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I can't see the difference between A and V zones at all. With both, you have to elevate your homes. The only difference seems to be either 6 ft, 7ft, 8ft or 9ft. If you can't elevate you're screwed no matter what.
Kim E
9:20 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
There are approx. 130 million single houses in the US. 18 % of them have flood insurance. That's about 24 million families that will be affeced by these new maps. What were they(congress and the president) thinking when they voted to make these changes? Who can afford any of this?And some homes can't be moved! Stop sending aid to other countries and Help US!
Ron Jampel
9:26 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Although we have not been able to receive any meaningful response from the Governor, we have recently gotten significant traction with our US Senators. Please also contact them at the below phone number and/or email (through their website). Let them know you are now also part of Save Our Community 2013 and would appreciate their continued assistance with our Sandy issues. They are very supportive and are now gathering specific information in order to formulate the proper response to FEMA and hopefully the President. We honestly believe ig the President knew FEMA was unnecessarily and unjustifiably causing homelessness of Seniors and Middle Class families he would be the biggest supporter of Save Our Communities 2013...cannot be done without each and everyone call/writing.
Take care and "Welcome Aboard!",
Ron
Senator Menendez 202-224-4744 http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/
Senator Lautenberg 202-224-3224 http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Martin
9:59 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I put that on Toms River Patch, Ron. Others in nearby towns, please put it on your local Patch edition ASAP. We have to speak up now!
BB
10:05 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
To Join email: saveourcommunity2013@gmail.com
Art D
10:44 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Done. Also sent an emal off to Rep. Smith.
Chief Wahoo
9:43 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Anyone still want to bad mouth chief wahoo , when 2 months ago posted, that what's coming would make Sandy look like a sunshower ?
Kim E
12:12 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I bow to your wisdom, O Great one!
the bulldog
12:32 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I think that princess wahoo should tell us your name
bernie
9:48 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lisa i live in Baywood and was driving in and out of the development from 8am the morning after and the water was receded 100% off the streets from Baywood Blvd to Toledo by 7pm which was less than 24 hours from when it flooded. The A-V zones have nothing to do with how much or how long water sat. The difference is A is subject to waves less than 3 ft and V is a velocity zone subject to waves greater than 3 ft.
Jennifer
2:23 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I was a witness to this as well as Bernie and his friends were helping people. The people who revised these flood maps don't seem have done their homework at all. Our home in Shore Acres is built on a 4 foot foundation.... we have never even come close to getting water in our home before Sandy and we have certainly never seen a 1 foot wave....... never mind a 3 foot wave. Yet we are going to fall into a V zone. My parents are retired seniors who have lived their since the early 80's and we will probably be forced to sell along with many of our neighbors.
Art D
3:02 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Guys-write Menendez, Lautenberg, Smith and Christie. Let them know how you feel and what your situation is. The more we hammer away at them the better chance we have to turn this thing around. If you lie down they will run over you. Do you want a bunch of Washington idiots taking your home and lives away from you? I think not. We all work hard for what we have so work hard to keep it.
lisad
6:31 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
i realize that bernie, was just kinda making light of the fact thewater had already receeded on my lot quicker then the corner of baywood and pilot...
carol jones
9:52 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
can anyone tell me if ha;f your property is in a V and the rest in a non rated area what in the name of ___ do you do and how impossible will it be to sell. We didn't get water at all in house just the first 10' past bulk head got 1' we are at 15' on 1st floor....
Martin
9:58 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The half-fast FEMA ultimatum (elevate your house for $60,000+ and/or pay $31,000 yearly premiums) approved by the Gov. will mean you better raise all of it a foot or 2 above the alrerady-innacurate elevation on the "provisional" flood map. They want all your money, not just half of it.
Jackie Simon
10:27 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The new flood zones will end Brick as we know it. We have got to band together and put pressure on all of our officials to force FEMA to revisit the V classification for those who are not subject to 3 foot waves. I have called and sent emails to Christie,
Lautenberg, Menendez and Smith asking them to save our homes, our communities and our way of life and I am asking my friends and family to do the same. We are all in this together.
Jackie
BB
6:05 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I have done the same and advised others also
shorecorruption
9:10 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Build flood gates in the Inlets,and Coastal water way
nick verdina
10:59 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
the sandy case is dire,many of the rules for rebuilding from building dept,are changing or just guess work from day to day.1,all property values have dropped 50-80%,2.getting your house sold before the storm was very difficult ,now it will be impossible.most do not have extra 50k+++ if you can get a grant to rebuilt according to new flood req..perhaps we need to get a attorney an even get banks involved who hold mortgage on property,,,many who have home, business,looking to retire are going to be lost,our government is just looking out for themselves,thats why Washington dc is now the wealthiest place in the usa,,,,we must be united or we will fall...it took 3 months to get funding an we will not see that for months or years,,,,,the question is should you put more money into a failing investment????
Bill Fleming
12:17 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I hope Christie gets the message. Haste still makes waste. There are issues to be resolved. We all recognize the floods can happen again so lift we must. But, the V zone is totally inaccurate. Pushing out a map they have been working on for years and including Sandy flood limits doesn't make it a professional job based on solid data or judgement. Just because we are waterfront or near waterfront does not mean we are in a wave velocity zone.
The Governor and his staff must take a serious look at what they are doing to all homeowners at the shore with such inaccurate data.
Many/most people will not be able to keep their homes. It will become a fertile ground for big bucks speculators to buy up property and sit till the time is right to get the rules relaxed!!
barnacle bill
the bulldog
12:34 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The pride and tradition of Bricktucky is being lost... I think we should start a petition to bring it back
Allen
2:32 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
After much prodding I was able to get some sort of estimate to raise and rebuid my 2300 Sq Ft home to meet "v" standards. Total cost $77,000. All I can say is Not gonna happen in my life time.The best is that it could be a year to get to us. Going to finish putting it back together with my family and stay here till I see the big increased flood rates. Then stop paying our mortgage and save for the three to four years it going to take the bank to get this mess of a house.
Art D
2:57 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
And that's what a lot of folks are going to have to do if we let the maps get approved as they are now. Join the fight and write our senators, congressman and governor.
J Shanahan
8:49 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Brick's going to be a ghost town. People don't have the money to raise their houses - they are just going to walk away from their house. It will take YEARS for the value of our houses to return. Nothing is going to sell.....whether we raise our houses or not - we are screwed - I agree...live in the house for 4 or 5 years....save...walk away -
Elayna C
10:10 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I'm thinking of doing that right now. I cannot raise my house at all, it would have to be fully knocked down. My mortgage company is already threatening me with VACANCY insurance and non payment since I asked for a forebearance and it has run out. THing is, if we go into foreclosure, don't they lock it up and kick us out?
Lara
2:52 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
So I have a nice Cape Cod in Brick on a lagoon. Still not put back together , good estimate needs well over 100k in work not including having to be raised. Let me try and wrap my head around this. I owe $244,000 on my mortgage, it needs $100,000 in repairs and will cost about $60,000 to raise it. So that's about $404,000 that I would be in debt on a home now worth $150,000 at best. Let me think, NO NEVER MIND.
nick verdina
2:55 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
the shore will become vacant cities an vagrant lots if flood map adoption isn't corrected
KC
1:24 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
That actually happened in Florida after Andrew one town became vacant. What a shame.
Rosemary Ackerman
3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The issue we need the most help from Governor Christie, Menendez and Lautenberg on, is through the Administration and not Legislative. The miss designation of most of Brick and a significant amount of other waterfront communities (including Toms River ) as a "V" zone from "A" will unnecessarily cause tremendous financial harm to residents of those areas.
Ramifications of the rezoning included with the ABFE's are already being seen in our neighborhood alone where folks are walking away from their homes. Banks will soon see a mini crisis, non-waterfront homeowners will be seeing dramatic increases in their real estate taxes, Real Estate will take a backward plunge, and most importantly you are going to see 10's of 1,000's of middle class NJ families either homeless, living in deplorable unsafe conditions. By being in a "V" zone, insurance rates will sky rocket. Now, according to Christie, people who are substantially damaged cannot get a permit unless they are in compliance.
Many more will be walking away!
Everyone effected by this storm and all taxpayers should call the numbers below and give an urgent shout out for help.
If not, we will not have a community left.
Gov. Christie, 609-292-6000, fax 609-777 2922, email via website http://nj.gov/governor/ (click on "Contact" and "Housing")
US Sen. Menendez, 202-224-4744, http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/
US Sen.r Lautenberg, 202-224-3224, http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
RA
Art D
3:07 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Don't forget Chris Smith or whoever your Congressman is. The House will have to work with the Senate.
http://chrissmith.house.gov/
Daniel Nee
3:17 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Rosemary - Keep in mind that it was legislative action that took away the subsidization of NFIP. So this exercise is a product of a combination of legislative as well as administrative action. At the end of the day, Congress controls the purse strings of government and the administrative agencies (in this case, FEMA) carries out the policy dictated by our elected officials.
Being moved from a 'V' to an 'A' zone does not shield one from the elevation requirements, though the cost of raising one's home would be less due to less stringent foundational requirements. Keep in mind that, in many towns (all of the LBI municipalities, for example), there were already height and foundation requirements nearly identical to what has now been expanded to the greater Shore area. But those whose homes were built before those codes were in place were grandfathered into NFIP and the rates were subsidized.
My point: moving to an 'A' from a 'V' designation is not the be-all, end-all cure to the situation coastal residents are facing. The root cause of all of this is the de-subsidization of flood insurance, which is purely a policy decision on the part of lawmakers at the federal level.
I won't offer an opinion on this as we keep this site as unbiased as possible, but the legislative aspect is just as important, if not more important, that the administrative aspect.
Art D
3:22 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Agree Daniel. That's why we also need them to repeal or ammend Biggert-Waters.
http://nhma.info/nhma-biggert-article/
Ron Jampel
5:15 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Dan-there are other considerations. Some houses will be precluded from being able to be moved to put in pilings. Therefore, being in a "V" will require the demolition of a perfectly good home (but for repairs) and incur the cost of building new. Second, it is an administrative matter to determine zones. You are correct congress has the purse strings but this is an insurance fund. When a catastrophic event happens, whether in an "A" or "V" the insurance payouts will be the same and if there is a catastrophic event causing a shortfall congress will be asked for the difference. The issue is whether or not someone will be hit with a 3+ foot wave and clearly the majority of the new "V" zone homes will not. Therefore, the money issue with respect to congress is revenue neutral with regard to zoning issue. Third is the ongoing premiums to be paid. The difference in annual premium for a "V" zone vs an "A" zone for building alone at the BFE is $3400/year and $30,000 in contents would be a difference of $2,100/year. This equates to an extra $165,000 over the term of a mortgage not even taking into account that "V" rates on pure dollar basis will increase more per year than "A" rates.
Elayna C
10:13 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Is it better to send an actual letter instead of an email? If so, can you post a link with Christie's mailing address? Thanks
Its over!
3:12 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ok, so lets say they pay for your house to be raised and best case scenario it covers the whole cost of raising the house which you and I know it won't . Afford it or not do you really want to pay 3500 to 7000 flood insurance. I mean come on what are we living in paradise here? I think not! Not to mention the taxes are going up also. For get about it! Move out now let them have it. Cut your losses now.
Its over!
3:14 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Allen I agree with you .
Lenny truck driver
3:26 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
We live right behind a lagoon and Bay front area. We are not on the water and got two feet of water in our ranch. Currently living with my parents waiting for this mystery insurance check to rebuild my home. Will my flood insurance rates also go up? We have a mortgage on this piece of crap as it sits and really do not want to pay it anymore if the rates are going to go up. We can barely make the mortgage payment now. Also what is my house worth in its current state? It is a 40 year old 3 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch not on the water. We owe 210,000 on the mortgage with Chase. The three estimates from contractors we got were between 60,000 and 80,000 to rebuild. This is a joke really for us. We do not even have money to start any repairs on our own , with two small kids and all. We had a few dollars in our saving and used it in the first month after the storm. Our home still sits there , with only the sheet rock out.
J Shanahan
8:54 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lenny's story is way too familiar - there are hundreds out there just like Lenny and his family......our houses are not worth the cost to raise them.....many are struggling just to make the repairs to live in them..
yvonne amato
8:51 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Lenny, I feel for you and your family. This is so incredibly sad for all of us. People need to ALL speak in numbers...and pass on those email links, addresses. We MUST all speak out. Good luck to you Lenny and your family.
Paul Pallante
4:01 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
What I really haven't seen discussed is the plethora of people, like me, who own a home that saw no damage in Sandy who are now classified as "A" when we had no need for flood ins. before. I will be faced with mounting insurance costs unless I raise my home, which is on a slab foundation. There is no $30K gift at the end of my rainbow because I had zero damage. How many people are in my situation in Brick and affected communities without even realizing that they are involved in this? My guess is thousands.
Art D
4:32 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
And you may not be able to raise a slab house. All the more reason why people in your position need to write our senators, congressmen and governor. This is crazy for all the reasons you state. I went from an A zone to Z. I will never see a wave on the lagoon I live on. Join the fight, Paul.
Chief Wahoo
4:40 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
do not forget skyrocketing property taxes coming very soon !!!
Paul Pallante
6:02 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Art,
I have joined the fight...been in it since I heard about what Ron Jampel was getting together. FYI...the whole slab, w/house on it, can be raised, but the method they use will not work when you hit water at 4-5 feet in my yard. They have to trench under the slab and run I beams in both directions under the home. The other way is to leave slab intact on ground and raise only the home by running I beams through my walls! I am going to stuff a letter into mailboxes in my neighborhood alone just to see how many of my neighbors are aware of the flood maps and the rezoning.
Ronster
11:38 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I am in Silverton in TR and am in your exact same boat. No flooding and no need for insurance before. Now in an A Zone of 8 ft. My house is not at 8 ft. and there is no way I can afford to raise it or pay the insurance rates these clowns are talking about.
Karen
4:02 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The "Save Our Brick Communities" group has changed its name to: Save Our New Jersey Communities. Join in the discussion on facebook. Share ideas, concerns, information etc. at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/saveournewjerseycommunities/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB
6:21 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lets please not confuse your facebook group with the one being lead by Ron Jampel. They are two separate efforts. He has organized an email list: SAVEOURCOMMUNITY2013@gmail.com This is an important campaign effort asking all to reach out to our governor and senators on our issues related to FEMA zoning.
Although we have not been able to receive any meaningful response from the Governor, we have recently gotten significant traction with our US Senators. Please also contact them at the below phone number and/or email (through their website). Let them know you are now also part of Save Our Community 2013: SAVEOURCOMMUNITY2013@gmail.com and would appreciate their continued assistance with our Sandy issues. They are very supportive and are now gathering specific information in order to formulate the proper response to FEMA and hopefully the President. We honestly believe ig the President knew FEMA was unnecessarily and unjustifiably causing homelessness of Seniors and Middle Class families he would be the biggest supporter of Save Our Communities 2013...cannot be done without each and everyone call/writing.
Take care and "Welcome Aboard!",
Ron
Senator Menendez 202-224-4744 http://menendez.senate.gov/contact/
Senator Lautenberg 202-224-3224 http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Paul Pallante
6:43 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Jack,
This Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Our-New-Jersey-Communities/204851389653073
...is associated with Ron's 'group or 'list' of people. I spoke with him today and we are creating this page as a way to better communicate. He has been cutoff by Gmail for sending so many emails....this is one way of communicating and I believe Ron intends to also send email to those that do not have access to Facebook.
The name was changed to "Save Our NJ Communities" so that as this grows, additional communities & towns can be incorporated wiuth the thinking that there is power in numbers.
The page is kind of raw right now, without logos and pictures but that will be up shortly.
Please 'like' it and all updates will become part of your news-feed.
Thanks,
Paul
WMS826
4:24 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
But Obama is such a good man, he won't let anything bad happen to us,he cares about the middle class people and BrickTucky. Without our dear leader we are nothing.
Guess its a different story than the folks in Nawlens were dealt. Say, aren't they BELOW sea level and unable to raise the homes I paid for to rebuild.
So George Bush was such a bad guy huh....he really hated those people right Kanye.
VICTOR FINAMORE
4:33 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
When comparing a Hurricane to a 100 year Super Storm, we can take a close look at the similarities between - Katrina vs Sandy and ask how far have we've come since then.
If anyone would like to read a couple good reports with Informative information regarding Hurricane Katrina + FEMA, there is a 737 page public report availble: [both are PDF files-]
Hurricane katrina: a nation still unprepared- U.S. Government prepared in 2006 writen by: The Committee of Home Land Security and Governmental Affairs.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-109srpt322/pdf/CRPT-109srpt322.pdf
along with another good report regrding Katrina - 29 page report-
Hurricane Katrina: Lessons and Implications - RMS.com/report-
http://www.rms.com/publications/katrinareport_lessonsandimplications.pdf
This may offer a little incite into this process.
nick verdina
5:47 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
if we learned anything from the victims down south affected with the Katrina storm we know that they lived in sheer turmoil an horror,but there story was covered by all forms of media day in an out.where is our coverage..anyone have a media connection?p.s. years later they are in terrible condition,we need more.
VICTOR FINAMORE
6:39 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
We have to keep in mind of the many tasks a head for every Brick resident who currently lives here [ Home owners to Renters ]. with some immediate factors to this challenge.
1] Total Home loss:Those who lost their homes -will either rebuild,relocate or can never rebuild again.
2] Those individuals who've had severe damage done to their homes.
a) Individuals who've made repairs - returned home now facing a new problems.
1a) FEMA Flood maps V zone - Must raise.
b) Those who can't afford to make repairs - currently living in,poor,unfinished - despaired homes - just waiting.
1b) what is the quality of their health + psychological conditions.
2b) condition of the property and to those living next door.
3] Others not physically impacted; who are living in a development that was damaged.
a) The residents of Brick; surrounding those developments.
b) What of the elderly who've been here for many years; living in these developments [ not adult communities ].who are Living on a fixed income.
That's, just the "very basic outline"..everyone is affected in some way. The good news is; more information is beginning to surface. Where as a few weeks ago, our choices were limited. Block Grant (CDBG) funding as well as Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMG) funding also for those who qualify for what is known as an Increased Cost of Compliance, or ICC, grant are beginning to surface.
lisad
6:40 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I have posted this on another patch article. I am a real estate appraiser who lives in Baywood. Last week i had to go to Midway Beach which is a 350 unit condo project just north of Island Beach State Park. on the ocean and probably built with 2 x 3's, 500-600 sq ft dwellings most with no heat. I was amazed when i saw no damage, no flood damage, maybe a shingle or piece of siding here or there gone...When i went into the real estate office on site and spoke with the owner i was told they had NO damage, even the beach fronts. why??? because they have dunes....there is also an area of trailers on the ocean block...didn't move an inch....why???? dunes....Wouldn't it be so much more prudent to construct dunes along the barrier island to assure us this won't happen again or would that be too easy?? I guess FEMA wants to try and find a way to pay itself back by jacking our premiums.....
Stan
6:42 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Our house is on Vanard Drive in Brick.
Our house has been in the Family since 1967.
We have paid our taxes every year and we wouldn't get a penny to help us fix the house!
Now they change us to a "V" Zone!
We have ten house between us and the Bay!
I'm sure we won't see any 3 foot waves!
Stan
6:44 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I meant to say its our 2nd home so we won't get any relief!
JB
8:47 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Can someone tell me where the governor came up with the 30K figure for insurance? Has anyone from an insurance company commented yet? How can we pay more than people that live on the intercoastal in Miami? I know people that pay 10K a year, and they are in a hurricane belt- and the house isnt very high either. And its a huge house at that.
Chief Wahoo
8:54 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Cash is King. Let that guide you.
kurt
9:03 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Hey folks fyi there is a premium you pay to flood insurance called ICC if you in have for than 51% damage to your homeMN your event eligible to get up to 30000 dollars to he lift raise or move your house. Check your policy you should a 70 payment in it tjat covers the ICC. Increased cost of compliance coverage
coolerhead
9:24 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
It is great to complain to a congressional representative. You may want to know that Brick in not in district 4, Chris Smith’s district, it is district 3, Jon Runyan’s district. You may also want to know both of them and our two Senators voted for Biggerts-Water the law that caused this problem. Ask them all why they voted for it?
Art D
8:38 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Ocean County is split between District 3 and 4.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey's_congressional_districts#Third_Congressional_District
BB
9:39 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Kurt, I believe most of us are aware of the 30k ICC. However the issue is the inaccurate rezoning by FEMA that needs to be challenged that has a huge structural impact on our homes. For the most part, many going from A zone to V Zone are not challenging the need to raise their homes. However many have been rezoned from A to V which indicates that you will experience 3 ft waves based on your location. A good number of homes now in V zones are in lagoons far off from the bay and had no 3 ft waves and their concrete/cinder block structure was not damaged during Sandy, the hurricane of the century. However now being in V zone you cannot simply raise on top of your current concrete foundation. You must build on pilings. Many of us cannot raise and move our houses out of the way since we have no room to move our house. So our only choice is to demolish and rebuild. I doubt the 30k will help too much. What about those who were not substantially damaged?. Where does that leave these individuals? You will see many who will have no choice but to walk away. But don't worry, the beaches will be ready for the summer visitors.
Mad in OC
10:09 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
We are now not in a flood zone. The new ABFE maps put us in an A flood zone with a 9 ft elevation. We had no substantial damage (only 40%) and no recurrent flooding. So no ICC grant for us even though we voluntarily had flood insurance. But we have to raise the house or face exorbitant flood premium penalties due to non compliance. When I spoke to my flood insurance company they told me that if we flood again they would help us out. Not only paying a second claim but also then they will help us raise our house.
What I cannot comprehend is that the FEMA maps put my house which is not on the water in a mainland waterfront community at a higher elevation than some of the houses at the foot of the Mantaloking bridge which were completely decimated or homes in ortley beach which were knocked off their foundations and toppled on their sides. These maps make no sense.
Paul Pallante
10:15 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Mad in OC,
Same here...my family's house in S. Seaside Park is an an 'A' zone, ABFE of 8' and we are at 9'...WTF? None of it makes sense.
Mad in OC
10:58 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Paul, when you look at the maps and look at Point Pleasant, there are homes in an A zone that have a higher elevation that homes in a V zone. Just makes no sense at all.
Elayna C
10:40 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Not only in Brick, I'm in SSH and the depression is now setting in that I will lose my house. That we cared for, invested in, loved. My husband spent the last 2 1/2 months gutting our house by himself. Physically and emotionally totally taxed. Now with the new FEMA map that Christie signed off on, it seems we will lose everything. We cannot elevate since our house is all concrete block. Would have to tear down and rebuild, costing way more than we have. If we dont, our Flood policy will be up to 30K per year beginnning in 2 years. Obviously impossible. I have never seen him give up before. I cannot believe this has happened to the shore, to our lives, and that our govt is allowing it.
Mad in OC
11:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
It's sad that as responsible citizens who did the right thing that losing our homes is even in our minds. I just cannot fathom having to explain this all to our 3 young children. How do you impart responsibility and that the government is there to help the people in the midst of something like this.
Jim
11:37 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
UN Agenda 21. Read the first 10 pages on scribd.
Feel terrible for the folks affected. Unbelievable.
Art D
1:01 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Look what Ron just found out.
http://www.politickernj.com/62773/after-final-sandy-relief-package-fails-deliver-adequate-funding-devastated-nj-fisheries-lauten
Baywood
2:18 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wow. I feel sick.
nick verdina
1:55 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
does anyone know if most people are rebuilding their home inside to just the walls or completely making it the way it was,ie:wood flooring,carpet, kitchen cabinets etc,or are they doing bare minimum an waiting for flood map approval.i mean why totally rebuild back 100% if you can't afford new insurance rates an or elevation req...also is there anything that one could do about having to sign off on a must rebuild statement from their bank having you promising to rebuild or they won't release your insurance proceeds.
Art D
2:18 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Guess it depends on your living arrangments. I have no place else to go so I rebuilt to pre-flood with one modification on the finished flooring. The way I saw it, it will take upwards of 2 years for things to settle out. It's a roll of the dice. Some will say that was the way to go and others will say I'm crazy. I needed a place to live that's the bottom line. When the final maps are in place and the zoning/elevations are what the powers that be decide I'm raising the house. For now I have a comfortable home again. I'm just about done. The furniture gets delivered on Saturday.
Baywood
2:13 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
If i elevate my home 13' to eliminate the risk of flooding why would i need to have flood insurance?
Art D
2:22 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Mortgage+flood zone=flood insurance. No mortgage, no requirement for flood insurance but you know the risk in the event of another flood and you get any kind of damage.
kurt
3:48 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Jack most of you doesn't mean all of you I have the moral responsibility to help people out if I can.I also can believe you would not think 30000 dollars would not be helpful I guess you have money to spare most people don't I would think any amount would help.I already got a quote on lifting my house $8500 and fortunately I do have plenty of room to jockey my house.I agree not everyone can do this but there are ways around it if you do your research.FEMA told me the maps are pretty close to what there going to be just need to be polished up.I believe further more some of these homes should of not been built in the first place.Why does NJ feel the need to occupy every square inch of land and lagoons.This super storm was bound to happen and now people are paying the price.Now don't get me wrong I think were getting screwed but don't believe FEMA is sympathetic after all they are a federal agency.Good luck to us all.
BB
4:28 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Kurt, I have done my research along with others quite extensively. So if you have a solution for me I would greatly appreciate it. Im not lucky enough to be able to move my house so it would have to be lifted, then moved once half way, install pilings, and then moved back the other half way, install piling and then moved back and placed on piling foundation. ......I never said that $30k would not be helpful AND I dont have money to spare and is why I am joining the effort to try and reevaluate those placed in V Zones who were A zones. I also dont want to pay a higher premium unecessarily if there is no possible way that I will ever see a 3 ft wave at the back of my lagoon away from the bay. As you said...Good Luck to All!
Baywood
6:38 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Is that 8,500 or 85,000. if it 8,500 from start to finish for elevating. New foundation, plumbing , gas, electric., and pilings. Who are you using? Great price!
Jo Amesco
7:54 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Folks lokk at it like this> your house is worth $260K you've just spent $60 in repairs, you pay currently $6000 a year in taxes + $2000 a year in flood = $8000 a year.
[ if Single and make $50K or married couple with combined $125K income. ] currently your already at $666. a month in payments now you spend $75K to raise it, you get grant funding, yadda yadda, whare as in the end your out $40K.
right there - you've already spent $100K in repairs over the next 2 years on a house worth $260K.
Now, by 2015 your property tax may be around $9800 a year + flood insurance of $9000, that a total of $18,800 a year or $1566.oo a month. Do you seriously believe that your going to stay ? Do you think someone will buy your 1960, 1970 , 1980 home that not only had Flood dammage and it was also raised ?
when they ( buyer ) will go somewhere else and buy Brand New , total green pkg, 90% eff. people be honest with yourself and really think about it. How long can you wait for. ? if your a young couple in your 30's or 40's, you may have the time to wait. But if your an old guy like me, past 50,or 60 , you can't wait, with medicare and supplimental at $1000.oo a month , buddy think about it.. I'm being honest even Cheif Waloo has valid points!!!
Elayna C
8:10 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Of course you're being honest, and you spelled it out perfectly. You forgot to add a mortgage on top of it for about 1000 a month as well. Most will not be able to afford this, and what are our options? If we walk away from our homes, and go into foreclosure, we will have our paychecks garnished until it's all paid. Then how to afford a new home. If the legislators do not realize that this is going to kill the state and the economy, they are braindead.
Baywood
8:21 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I dont think they can garnish your paychecks
nick verdina
9:06 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
you would have to declare bankrupt,the way banks are they can go after if they want to ..but also you would need many years to even get close to your org. purchase price if you could find a buyer,,the question is do wait an see or get out from the pain?.
KC
1:38 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Problem is there is no where to walk to. Even Florida real-estate is once again beginning to skyrocket. There is no easy answer. This flood and these politicos really stuck it to us.
Elayna C
8:41 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I was reading about foreclosures. It said no matter what, you will still owe the bank and they will try to get their money in several ways, garnishment of wages being one of them.
Chief Wahoo
8:43 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
They cannot garnish your wages. Fight back and stay in your houses. The values will bever come back to the bibble years, but that is a good thing !!!! Fix them minimally so you are safe and secure. But do not not throw good money after bad. What good is spending all your savings , raising and fixing, if you cannot afford the increases in insurance and taxes. Then imagine how long it would take corts , if everyone of you fought the banks for the fraud that is on most of your mortgages that you are not even aware of.
You are free people. Why must you follow burecrats who leech off of your hard work. You all will all finally understand this and stand together or you will not. Choice is yours. Sandy could be the worst thing to ever happen to you or maybe it could be the best thing. A chance at a much needed reset of the entire corrupt system that is taking from you from those below AND above you.
Anarcho-Capitalism
nick verdina
9:15 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
the direction in which the country has been going is major decay,,look at the taxes, water my bill is $70.00 more than last quart.,why?
i can't see any light for any us.and i am a optimistic.l.o.l.
BB
10:18 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
http://youtu.be/GbF8q19wodE
brickmom
1:14 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Does anyone know what the yellow line on the new FEMA flood map represents? There is zone V and then A and then an area further out that is surrounded by a yellow line.
bernie
3:48 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
everyone is missing the most important part. they call it a barrier island for a reason. The dunes MUST be replenished to act there part as a barrier. If the breaches dont happen the flooding we sustained doesnt happen BOTTOM LINE. Im in Baywood and have been sine late 60's and never flooded. Im 4+ blocks from the open bay and now in a potential V zone which the mayor is ABSOLUTELY challenging !! Im still living in a hotel, home is completely gutted, electrical has been redone, HVAC partially redone and now im in a holding pattern. Its an older split level (back half on slab/front half crawl) interior remodeled in 05 as well as 60ft vinyl bulkhead, trex dock, boat lift, jet ski davit etc...im not going anywhere. It will be lifted (hopefully reduced to an A zone). I had a small flood policy w NO contents. It is Substantially damaged (unlocking the $30k ICC policy) and im going to apply for every grant possible to assist with the rest. I was denied SBA so now its begging time. Raise your home to the 2ft above including freeboard, make it compliant and then decide to stay or sell. If its compliant it will see and the value wont be that bad a loss. If its not compliant THEN it will be worth pennies on the dollar.
Unsure if you are part of our email chain where all our important information and "call for action" take place?
If you wish to join email chain email us at saveourcommunity2013@gmail.com
yvonne amato
8:27 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Brick girl
I just found out that a corner of my house and property are in V zone, which means I'm now in the V flood zone. I got water in my basement for the first time ever, and not a drop in my living space during the storm. My first floor (not basement) is over 8ft above the base flood elevation! I am so devastated and literally a basket case and in tears with this. I can't imagine how much it would be to try an elevate my home....if it is at all possible. My home is older and partially on a cement slab and other is above a basement. I just found this out....I'm just so shaken. The thought of having to give away my home...my life savings has me so sick and sad. Just needed to talk to others in the same boat.