How about a little seminar on how we can challenge Femas "proposed" flood maps ???

SoDone

At the latest information session attended by the Twp. the mapping section of FEMA told us that the ABFE map does not take structures on the landscape into consideration when developing thei wave action models.

This pushed the flood zones further inland. We were then told that the preliminary map is going to take the landscape structures into account.

What this means is we should see the zones recede somewhat, due to wave action being diminished by structures situated closest to the open water.

MAYBE SOMEONE CAN INFORM FEMA THAT WE NEED THE ANSWER YESTERDAY.

WHEN WILL RT35 NORTH IN MANTOLOKING REOPEN????

AND OUR FLOOD INSURANCE MONIES LAST MONTH!

Does anyone else get the irony that this story about the need to raise homes on pilings to mitigate damages from storms is accompanied by a picture of bare pilings from which a house was knocked off? IF WE DON'T LAUGH, WE'LL CRY!!!!!!

John, There have been many pictures of many hurricanes in many locations. In just about every storm, there are pictures of empty pilings with the houses GONE. The article correctly sites raising a house as a "mitigating remedy". Nothing is fail safe.

its time everyone stops complaing about FEMA and works with them....Raise your houses 2 feet higher than is required, would be best for all.......do not be selfish.....follow our leaders

Jersey Strong

I feel sorry for all those that have to do this. I also feel that this a win/win situation for insurance companies and not the people. If you don't raise your house you will be hit with a huge premium, or may not be able to get insurance. On the other hand, if you do, then in the future there will be less damage and less payout's for the insurance company. And yes I know it's better in the long run for the people because they will have less loss but a lot have lost much already and now have to spend more to raise the dwelling. It's too bad that it wasn't proposed for all new dwellings before this all happened. A friend who builds homes showed me one he built on the beach in Loveladies about 3 years ago and he did just that, on pilons with break-away walls, not sure how it faired in the storm, but would be interesting to know.

Flood insurance is just about protecting the banks from lending money to people who elect to build their homes in a flood prone area. Insurance companies make out and the banks are protected. That's life I guess.

In the long run, I could imagine that lot's a real good hearted residents who live in Cherry Quay and Bayshore will be forced out because they will not be able to afford insurance.

It should be made clear that the ONLY reason why we had such a catastrophe was because the barrier island was breached. It was breached because of rising sea level and the lack of a consistent policy in protecting dunes and the importance thereof.

Let's pray that we don;t get a nasty Nor'easter any time soon.

According to the new FEMA maps i should raise my house 3 feet. my insurance claim is 50.000. I am only guessing to raise my house would cost $30-40.000. My dwelling is worth 109.000.Total mortgage $180.000. Any advice.

Toms River is applying for The Hazard Mitigation Grant program from FEMA. I called the Brick Sandy info line and asked if Brick was going to apply. I was told they did not know.They are keeping an informal list of residents who would be interested.I called the state office of emergency management to apply myself and was told the township needs to apply. Brick needs to question the new FEMA flood maps and apply for Mitigation Grants. Please call the town and add your name.

Why do we have to apply for a LOAN
- that would only mean to BARROW MONEY from the Goverment..??
to only pay it back..!
What doesn't anyone understand-? If your on a FIXed income - there is no way to pay back anything..??
Your better off NOW to walk away from your home..
file a chpt 13 and WALK...
let the town go Bankrupt,, for loosing town residents.
The the Town can file with the government to help restore it's losses = it's the only way to help the township it's self..
Lets face it,, over a 150 homes destroyed,,
another 10,000 people confused caught in between,,
What about those who live in the same developments as these damaged homes - who wants to live there - better yet - who wants to buy there ..? ,,
As far as I can see it, any home in any development with in a 2 block radious of a FLOOD ZONE is goning to be valued at $100K or less,,
if your owe more than that - you'll never be able to sell it,,
Chances are, today- if your current tax rate is $6000.00 on your house - expect it to go up to $8,000.00 in a few months..
cant pay it ?? - OH - WELL -- see ya at - Sherriff- property TAX sale ( plenty of Lakewood investors will be there buying up in bulk)
- either way - your going to either forclose or file bankruptcey...

50/50 I like this one,, FEMA says - if your home is at 50% or GREATER damage - you'll quallify for almost anything ?
so here's a good one, you had a home worth $300,000.00 [in a V or A zone]according to Brick over inflated TAX values. now you've just had flood damage "caused by water/rain/wind-super storm" not a hurricane..[what ever]- follow this...
You've had 2 cars lost $25K, your home torn appart and hopefully repaired correctly at a cost of $100,000.00 in dammages,,, total out of pocet SANDY expense - $125,000.00 [ if, you had an umbrella policy ?] well, your not 50%,, OOPPS - sorry - you do not quallify.!
HOWEVER - by FEMA code - if you try to sell your home - OOOPPSIE - you can't get a CO to sell - you MUST raise your home another 13 feet.. at a cost of $50,000 - 75,000.00
well - math is math - a duck is a duck; this means - this will cost me - between $175,000 - $200,000.00- what happend to the 50% ??
when it's all said and done- it will cost me a lot more than what the home is worth,,.?
If I can sell it,, then I'll rent it "quietly"..
- it's sad,but it's only a matter of time before people are pushed, to the point of no return, once a person feels that he or she has lost everything - they just give up hope, and give up. Once people start falling behind on their taxes and threatened with a TAX sale,vacate - watch public react, if someone commits suicide because of this. Watch the media pressure then.
people need real help-people are trapped.

Mayor -

I'm a Snow Bird,This is an election year, if you decide to run,, I wish you the best - Sincerely - I'm being honest - all political nonsense a side- "plenty of time for that later."

You will have one hell of a job in the years to come. I hope that you find qualified people to work with you on this - people who are loyal, follow orders, directions and focused.

What I mean by Qualified - I'm not talking about the persons income, success stories
or education level - I don't care if he-she has been bankrupt in the past - due to underemployment [as long he or she's always been gainfully employed] -working class.

What I care about is, that you have people who can relate to others, have the Compassion, the Integrity, Intelligence, individuals that during this storm; you saw everyday - no matter the part they played in - volunteers or paid professionals - they were there.

That to me- shows Dedication and Integrity for the job given. With that, you might have a fighting chance and win this election.

Real people know how to survive, People with money- degrees- can always make excuses - reasons- then give up and walk away.
Brick needs to know how to survive, we are going to need someone who can lead and develop that. We are still at the begiing stages people. Think long term. and whats best for everyone. Have Town votes every so often to make those choices - give those who live here and staying here a chance to make a choice.

how do you put an existing (standing house) on pilings? I am on the brick barrier island and according to FEMA. i need to raise my house another 8 feet or so. Can it even be done in place without moving the house? If not, where do you "park" a house while the pilings are being driven in?

There is a lot of mis-information out there, I encourage all who have flood insurance to contact your agent and find out if you are grandfathered in - which means if you have had continuing flood insurance then your zone will not change for the new FEMA map - everyone should go to the National Flood Program website and read the information; and go to the Biggert-Waters bill and read that as well some of the information given out at the Sandyfair and by the Township officials applied only to substantially damaged properties and not to everyone who had flood damage and there are only certain properties, i.e., non-primary residences where the subsidies will be removed - please call your insurance company and do the reading on your own - do not rely on these blogs and what your friends and neighbors think is happening - it is inconceivable that any govenment entity would ask that everyone who had flood damage move their homes and install pilings - it does not make sense - do your own research

I just read about the elevation seminar today - you may want to think about who is conducting it

according to the Mayor Brick is appealing the new FEMA flood maps - and he also advised that people do not rush and make rash decisions about elevation, etc.

There's no question that Sandy has raised the flood threshold. Homes that were never flooded got flooded. There was also wave damage. NFIP was to be self sustaining. Currently FEMA is in the red. Biggert/Waters Act addresses that, as part of extending NFIP. New FEMA FIRM maps were in the works prior to Sandy according to FEMA.

PS: it's not just non-primary residences, but properties that have had repetitive damage, that will have to be mitigated.

Elevation Mandates are going to impact everyone. It is going to be a real Challenge for Homeowners who own a Ranch on a slab.

Will the educational seminars about hazard mitigation include demolishing a home. .Thank you.
Maureen

Forgot to state my house is constructed with cinder block and I understand that it cannot be elevated.