Reminder: Congresswoman Velázquez To Hold Public Meeting In Gowanus On Changes to National Flood Insurance Program's Preliminary Flood Insurance Maps And Rates

Gowanus Canal overflowing its banks during Hurricane

***Reminder***

This Meeting Is This Thursday

Thank you to Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, who is organizing a second public meeting, this time in Gowanus, regarding the changes to the National Flood Insurance Program's new preliminary flood insurance maps and rates.  The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28 at 7 PM at 41 1st Street, in the community room of the Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments.

Here is why this meeting is important:

In the past few weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent out letters regarding updated flood maps for New York City to all property owners in or near the Special Flood Hazardous Area newly identified by the federal agency.

The Agency encourages everyone to identify their property's flood risk by checking the Preliminary 

Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The maps can be accessed here and here.

In the letter, FEMA stresses that the maps are only preliminary. A public comment and appeal period began on March 31st, 2015 and will continue until June 28th, 2015. During this period, homeowners can challenge FEMA's new maps by sending technical and/or scientific data regarding their individual property.

After FEMA evaluates all challenges and appeals, the new maps will be incorporated and flood insurance purchase requirements will go into effect.

If you received the FEMA letter because your property is either is zone A or Zone X, you need to take the time to understand what all of this will mean. This has some very important ramifications beyond getting flood insurance.

If you need legal help regarding this issue:
Two weeks ago, I was contacted by Antony Gemmell, Staff Attorney for New York Legal Assistance Group, a non-profit organization which provides free legal services to people who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy.
Gemmell let me know that New York Legal Assistance Group "offers advice and representation on a wide range of legal issues related to Sandy, including flood insurance."
Please avail yourself of the organization's services by contacting NYLAG's Storm Response Unit (SRU) client intake team at (212) 584-3365 or stormhelp@nylag.org.

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Important Information For All Gowanus (And Red Hook) Residents Who Got A Letter From FEMA

Gowanus Canal overflowing its banks during Hurricane

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’s letter to the FEMA Administrator regarding 

the National Flood Insurance Program and its process for reopening claims.

In the past few days, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent out letters regarding updated flood maps for New York City to all property owners in or near the Special Flood Hazardous Area newly identified by the federal agency.

The Agency encourages everyone to identify their property's flood risk by checking the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The maps can be accessed here and here.

In the letter, FEMA stresses that the maps are only preliminary. A public comment and appeal period began on March 31st, 2015 and will continue until June 28th, 2015. During this period, homeowners can challenge FEMA's new maps by sending technical and/or scientific data regarding their individual property.

After FEMA evaluates all challenges and appeals, the new maps will be incorporated and flood insurance purchase requirements will go into effect.

Clearly, this is an important issue for homeowners in both Gowanus and Red Hook.  The  information created by FEMA has generated more questions and has left many owners confused, as they are trying to navigate through this process in a relatively short time period.

FEMA has held a community meeting in Red Hook two weeks ago.  After residents called for a similar meeting in Gowanus, FEMA and the City have just announced that they will be happy to organize an informational  meeting in the Gowanus/ Carroll Gardens area.

That is good news.  I will be posting information on the meeting as soon as a date has been set, so stay tuned.

Above also please fine Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’s letter to the FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate regarding the National Flood Insurance Program and its process for reopening claims.
Her office has been very helpful in this matter.

A few days ago, I was contacted by Antony Gemmell, Staff Attorney for New York Legal Assistance Group, a non-profit organization which provides free legal services to people who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy.
Gemmell let me know that New York Legal Assistance Group "offers advice and representation on a wide range of legal issues related to Sandy, including flood insurance."
Please avail yourself of the organization's services by contacting NYLAG's Storm Response Unit (SRU) client intake team at (212) 584-3365 or stormhelp@nylag.org.

If you received the FEMA letter because your property is either is zone A or Zone X, you need to take the time to understand what all of this will mean. This has some very important ramifications beyond getting flood insurance.

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Did You Get A Letter From FEMA Regarding Updated Flood Maps And Your Property?

Last week, quite a few of my friends in Gowanus received letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding updated flood maps for New York City.

All those who own property in or near the Special Flood Hazardous Area newly identified by FEMA should have received the letter above.
The Agency encourages everyone to identify their property's flood risk by checking the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
In the letter, FEMa stresses that the maps are only preliminary. A public comment and appeal period began on March 31st, 2015 and will continue until June 28th, 2015.  During this period, homeowners can challenge FEMA's new maps by sending technical and/or scientific data regarding their individual property.
After FEMA evaluates all challenges and appeals, the new maps will be incorporated and "flood insurance purchase requirements will go into effect."

What exactly will all this mean for residents in the footprint of the new flood hazard areas?
A Gowanus property owner just reached out to me late last week and sent me some questions that she has forwarded to our public officials regarding this matter:

Where can people find information on how to challenge the proposed maps? Are there any resources available to help people understand the challenge process?

Challenging this designation would require a surveyor or engineer. Are there any resources to help a homeowner with this?

Since people have just received notice of the proposed map changes they have lost at least two weeks of a 90 day comment period. Can this be extended?

Are condominiums and cooperatives treated differently or the same for insurance purposes.

Is there a difference between Zone X and "shaded" Zone X and if so what is it?

Is there some information available about flood insurance affordability?

When can lenders require flood insurance in Zone X?

Obviously, there is quite a bit of uncertainly regarding this matter. Below are just some links that may help.

Here are the flood maps from the FEMA site:
http://floodmaps.fema.gov/prelim/PrelimData/New%20York/Kings%20County/prelim_issue_date-2013-12-05/FIRM/3604970211G.pdf
Here is another site which is a bit easier to use:
http://www.region2coastal.com/view-flood-maps-data/what-is-my-bfe-address-lookup-tool/

For background and information on how to object to the proposed flood maps here is the link to the notice that was published in the Federal Register:
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/16/2015-05852/proposed-flood-hazard-determinations#h-4

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Reminder: Congresswoman Velázquez Will Hold FEMA Flood Insurance Meeting In Red Hook Tomorrow

 Fema flood map for Gowanus

Here is a quick reminder that Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, in cooperation with several other elected officials, is hosting a  FEMA Flood Insurance Meeting in Red Hook tomorrow evening.

According to the Congresswoman's office:
"It’s time for another flood insurance meeting: March 31, 2015 – which begins a 90-day public comment period on new maps where many more people will be required to get flood insurance. (FEMA is sending out 400,000 letters to NYC property owners mapped in or near the special flood hazard areas next week.) Anticipating a lot of questions, the Congresswoman is hosting a public community meeting in Red Hook (accessible to Gowanus and open to all) with FEMA and the City officials."

Since this information is of equal importance to residents in Gowanus, please circulate the flyer and mark your calendar.

Perhaps, as one of my neighborhood friends suggested, Gowanus residents should request their very own meeting? Just a suggestion.

If you would like to check if your home is in a FEMA Flood zone, click here to enter your address:
What Is My BFE? Address Lookup Tool | FEMA Region II

Click here for the Gowanus-specific map.
You can also leave a comment on Fema's web site here.



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Congresswoman Velázquez To Hold FEMA Flood Insurance Meeting In Red Hook

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, in cooperation with several other elected officials, is hosting a FEMA Flood Insurance Meeting in Red Hook.
According to the Congresswoman's office:

"It’s time for another flood insurance meeting: March 31, 2015 – which begins a 90-day public comment period on new maps where many more people will be required to get flood insurance. (FEMA is sending out 400,000 letters to NYC property owners mapped in or near the special flood hazard areas next week.) Anticipating a lot of questions, the Congresswoman is hosting a public community meeting in Red Hook (accessible to Gowanus and open to all) with FEMA and the City officials."

Since this information is of equal importance to residents in Gowanus, please circulate the flyer and mark your calendar.

Perhaps, as one of my neighborhood friends suggested, Gowanus residents should request their very own meeting?  Just a suggestion.

If you would like to check if your home is in a FEMA Flood zone, click here to enter your address:
What Is My BFE? Address Lookup Tool | FEMA Region II



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Congresswoman Velázquez And FEMA Hosting Important Draft Flood Maps Forum Tonight

Thursday, April 4, 6:30 pm

FEMA Draft Flood Maps Forum

This is important information for Red Hook and Gowanus residents in particular and pertains to the just-released post-Sandy Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) flood maps.
Tonight, Congresswoman Velázquez hosting of meeting with FEMA and NYC on FEMA’s release odraft flood maps at Red Hook Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street
According to a press release from Velázquez's office:

FEMA will explain its released Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) to provide a better picture of current flood risk than the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and the New York City’s Housing Recovery Office, Department of Buildings, the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency and NYC Housing Authority will be there as well for breakouts and discussion. The meeting is of course free and open to the public.

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Important Info Every Red Hook And Gowanus Building Owner Needs To Hear: What FEMA's New Flood Maps Mean For Building Owners In Zone A

Canal at Carroll Street during Sandy (photo credit: Margaret Maugenest)

FEMA Advisory Base Flood Elevations for Gowanus And Red Hook

After Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated its 1983 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) of the New York area to reflect the full extend of the water's reach during the October 2012 storm. These new updated maps are called "Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE)" and show the significant expansion of the flood plains. Many areas that were previously not in Advisory Zone A have now been included.

Just recently, FEMA has completed and added the ABFE section specifically pertaining to Gowanus and Red Hook. (You can access the section here)

New York's ABFEs are advisory now, but eventually, the information will be used to update the official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. When the agency does include it in the next 1-2 years, insurance premiums in flood prone areas will go up significantly.

According to FEMA, if your property is in the redefined Zone A, it should be raised by 3 feet above the Base Flood elevation. Otherwise, your insurance premiums will go up. "Elevating" can be accomplished by rebuilding on stilts or, by sacrificing the cellar/basement of an existing home.
To make up for the space, New York City will relax zoning requirements and allow property owners to build additional space on their building.

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery would like to make her Red Hook, Gowanus, and Sunset Park constituents aware of all this new information and of all the new regulations. Her office just published a guide, part of which you can see below. You can also access it on her website here.
"As you can see, there is much to be considered in response to the ABFE maps" State Senator Montgomery writes.  " If my office can be of service please reach out to us!"

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Councilman DeBlasio Advocating For Developers, Not For His Constituents

Councilmember Bill DeBlasio

Raw Sewage Floating On The Gowanus Canal

Official Fema Map Showing Gowanus Area Is Flood Zone

Gowanus Area flooded after heavy rain

What Public Advocate Would Advocate For Development On Highly Toxic Canal In A FEMA Flood Zone?

Councilmember DeBlasio never ceases to amaze me. He consistently seems to be on the opposite side of the table from his constituents here in Carroll Gardens.

Today, in an article in the Daily News, he made it clear that he opposes the Superfund designation for the Gowanus Canal. Here are just a few quotes from the article.

"We, locally, have gotten our act together. The city's doing the right stuff. ... The Toll site will get cleaned up," de Blasio said, charging the Feds would just "get in the way."

De Blasio conceded the city's plan is a "short-term" solution, but said funding for a comprehensive cleanup could be cobbled together from other sources and that the waterway is safe to live near.

"You don't want to drink out of it, you don't want to eat fish out of it, but it is not a danger to live near it," he said. (Daily News)

De Blasio has been an incredible disappointment for the last 7 1/2 years as our councilman. Personally, I can't wait till his term is over.  He has largely been absent during his two terms and totally absent for the last few months, while running his campaign.

But that is only my opinion. What's yours?
How would you rate Bill de Blasio's performance as our local councilman?

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