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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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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City Comptroller Stringer Invites Gowanus And Red Hook Residents And Business Owners To Testify At Sandy Oversight Hearing

photo credit: Steven M.

This past April, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer announced the formation of a Sandy Oversight Unit and an audit of ‘Build It Back’, "which will draw upon the Comptroller’s Audit, Contracts, Budget and Policy Units to hold government accountable in the rebuilding of New York City from Superstorm Sandy.

For the past few sweeps, the Comptroller's office has been holding town hall meetings in all five boroughs "to discuss program ideas and audit recommendations.

On Tuesday, June 10th at 7 PM, an oversight meeting will be held at  PS15, 71 Sullivan Street.

The Comptroller encourages residents, businesses and property owners of Gowanus and Red Hook impacted by Hurricane Sandy to attend and testify.

From a press release by Comptroller Stringer:
“Superstorm Sandy changed the lives of millions of New Yorkers and we are still grappling with its consequences today,” Comptroller Stringer said. “It is critical to have an accounting of how government has responded to this event, and what we can do to better prepare for the future. I am announcing the creation of a Sandy Oversight Unit and as part of that Unit’s first order of business, we will be auditing all aspects of the ‘Build it Back’ program. We will ensure government works for the people while finding ways to get New Yorkers the help they need.”

The Sandy Oversight Unit will be a first-of-its-kind initiative that will utilize the expertise and resources of the Comptroller’s Audit, Contracts, Budget and Policy Units. The group will focus on:
*Reviewing how federal aid was spent on recovery and resiliency programs;
*Identifying areas where controls can be strengthened to improve performance and service delivery to protect taxpayers from fraud, waste and abuse;
*Monitoring the budget, milestones and status of Sandy projects; and
*Proposing policy recommendations to help the City enhance its emergency preparedness capacity.

At the outset, audit staff will take a comprehensive look at the ‘Build it Back’ program to determine whether the Housing Recovery Office has set goals and timetables for the delivery of services and established procedures to reduce the backlog of applications. The unit will also monitor the speed and quality of services delivered and determine whether adequate control procedures have been implemented to detect fraud. The audit will focus on the Single Family Program, since the majority of the funding was allocated to those recipients.

The Red Hook meeting will be co-hosted by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assembly Member Joan Millman, Assembly Member Felix Ortiz, Council Member Brad Lander, Council Member Steven Levin, Council Member Carlos Mancheca.



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Months After Hurricane Sandy, Giant Trunks Of Carroll Park's Fallen Trees Finally Removed

Trunk of Carroll Park tree that fell across Carroll Street during Hurricane Sandy, as it lay across the fence since the end of October 2012

And photos taken on Friday, March 29, 2013 while it was finally removed.

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Joe Auer)

(photo credit: Loren Sosna)

The site all cleaned up after stump removal

Carroll Park, Brooklyn's third oldest public park, lost quite a few majestic trees during Hurricane Sandy at the end of October, including two very old giants that had probably been planted when the park first opened in the 1800's. One of them, an elm tree, crashed across the fencing on Carroll Street between Court and Smith Streets. Its branches were almost immediately cut into sections after the hurricane to clear the way for traffic. But its gigantic trunk needed to be removed with special equipment, which is not readily available to the Parks Department.
Finally, this past Friday, a crew arrived with a crane and lifted the trunk over the fence and onto a truck

The second tree was a Linden tree, which had stood in a section of the park along President Street. In November, the branches had already been removed in November 2012, but again, the trunk and the roots were just too heavy for removal.

However, rather than to remove the entire trunk on Friday, the crew just cut off the root ball and left the trunk so that the children could climb on it. After all, it is right next to the giant bolder that was brought into the park from a construction site on Clinton Street at the request of  Friends Of Carroll Park.

Judging by the fun the kids had on the rock and the trunk yesterday afternoon, it was a great decision to leave it where it had fallen.

(photo credit: Joe Auer)
The trunk of the linden tree as it had fallen in a border along President Street

Now, it has been repurposed as climbing equipment for the kids.

My thanks to Joe Auer and  Loren Sosna for the use of their photos.

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Tonight, Share Your Thoughts On Priorities For Post-Sandy Rebuilding In Red Hook And Gowanus

(photo credit: Steven Miller)

This is a topic of interest to all of us in South Brooklyn.  How should we rebuild our waterfront communities after last October's Hurricane Sandy?  Tonight,  Mayor Bloomberg's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) is hosting a meeting at PS 58 to get input from residents on pst-Sandy rebuilding priorities for Gowanus, Red Hook and Sunset Park. You will find all the details on the meeting below courtesy of Councilman Brad Lander's office, who will be attending tonight.

Four short months ago, Hurricane Sandy brought unprecedented destruction to New York City. The storm made our shared vulnerability all too clear, and brought home the frightening reality of climate change.

Many are still struggling to recover, contending with extensive storm damage, mold, and rats. Over 2,000 families are still displaced, living in SROs and hotels (sign on here to our petition calling on HUD to immediately issue housing vouchers to let them move into apartments).

While there is much more work to be done to help these households and communities, we must also start planning for our city’s resilience in the face of future storms. We need to make smart investments in sustainable infrastructure, learn from places like the Netherlands that have worked to adapt to the realities of sea level rise and climate change, pay attention to the inequalities the storm exposed, and build upon the remarkable volunteer relief efforts by including communities more deeply in planning.

In January, the Mayor launched the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR), which is working to develop recommendations for rebuilding the most impacted neighborhoods and protecting New York City from future climate risks. This Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 pm, representatives from SIRR will present their initial assessment of the Brooklyn Waterfront, followed by break-out sessions where you can give your input on priorities for rebuilding in Red Hook, Gowanus, and Sunset Park. I will be there, to listen to their presentation and hear your comments.

Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Recovery

Brooklyn Waterfront Public Workshop

Thursday March 7, 2013, at 7:30 pm

PS 58, 330 Smith Street at Carroll Street

RSVP:  to RSVPMarch7@nycsirr.org or 212-618-5745

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On Monday, EPA To Speak About Gowanus Flooding At Community Meeting

A Community meeting has been scheduled with the US EPA for Monday November 26 at 6:30 pm at PS 32, 317 Hoyt Street, about Gowanus Canal flooding during Hurricane Sandy.
In attendance will be Judith Enck, EPA Regional Manager of  Region 2, and Walter Mugdan, EPA Region 2 Superfund Director.
The meeting is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Councilmember Steve Levin, and Councilmember Brad Lander.
Per Brad Lander's office:
The meeting will be an opportunity for Gowanus residents and business owners to speak with the EPA team about their water sampling results (which you can find at http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus and ask any questions they may have. Information will also be available on resources for those affected by the storm.



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Carroll Park Play Areas Re-Open After Sandy, But Some Sections Still Off Limit

Volunteer Joe Auer with little helpers Finneas and Arianna re-open a section of Carroll Park

Carroll Park has been closed ever since Hurricane Sandy toppled some of our park's beautiful old trees. On Wednesday, the NYC Park's Department was able to send over a crew to begin to cut the fallen trees into sections for removal and to make sure that all the others are still sound.
Crews need to come back to repair fencing that was damaged and in the meantime, the World War I memorial and Valentino Ball Field are still off limits.
Luckily for everyone, the playgrounds and the area around the Acito Park House have been deemed safe by the Parks Department. Members of Friends Of Carroll Park spent some time yesterday afternoon to clean the play areas and opened the gates.

Here is a message from the Friends Of Carroll Park:

Good news! The play areas on the Smith Street end of Carroll Park have been reopened by the New York City Parks Department effective immediately (Saturday afternoon, November 17).
The rest of the park (the ball field and central WWI monument area) will remain closed until the remaining safety hazards can be resolved. We ask visitors to stay out of those areas and to remind others to do the same. It may be necessary to close the entire park again if these restrictions are not respected.
Since it may be some time before the Parks department returns to its normal cleaning and maintenance schedule, please do not leave toys and games in the park and please remove your trash to the full extent possible.
Thank you,Friends of Carroll Park

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Riverkeeper Tests Still Show Extreme Bacteria Levels In Gowanus Canal Days After Hurricane Sandy

Data compiled by John Lipscomb and Andy Juhl of Riverkeeper
click here for a sharper image

Riverkeeper, New York's clean water advocacy group, has been doing a tremendous job of informing the public of the water quality around New York City Harbor in the days after Hurricane Sandy.
On November 2nd, four days after the storm, Riverkeeper conducted it's first patrol to take water samples. The group followed up with additional tests on November 8th.
(To see the results of all testing, click here)

Surprisingly, the result of the tests showed better than average water quality at all testing sites, except for the Gowanus Canal, which indicated extremely high levels of sewage contamination.
The Gowanus samples from November 2nd, which were taken at the Hamilton Avenue Bridge indicated an unacceptable Enterococcus counts of   >24,196 per 100ml. (The US Environmental Protection Agency guideline threshold for primary contact is 104 Entero per 100ml.)

On November 8th, one day after the Nor'Easter, the samples taken at the same location again showed Enterococcus count of  >24,196 per 100 ml.

 See photos taken by Riverkeeper on November 8th at Gowanus CSO outflow.

On November 9th, Riverkeeper checked the same location on the Gowanus again and still observed dry weather flow.  See photos below.

As we all know, New York City still discharges Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) into the Gowanus during heavy downpours. However, Hurricane Sandy, though destructive, was not a significant rain event.  Riverkeeper concludes that "the extreme contamination in the Gowanus Canal is probably due to additional, perhaps ongoing, sewage discharges from CSOs or bypasses into the Canal continuing after the tidal flooding ended."

Below is a more detailed summery on the findings by John Lipscomb and Andy Juhl of Riverkeeper:

We have been sampling to quantify the frequency and severity of sewage contamination around Manhattan and in the Hudson River for over 5 years, so we have a fairly good idea what typical conditions are like, and water quality around NYC is probably better most of the time than most people think. There are intermittent problems, mostly following rain, but also because of occasional infrastructure failures (i.e., broken pipes or pumps). Still, during dry weather, more than 90% of the samples we have collected around NYC are “acceptable” from the perspective of microbial indicators of sewage.

That’s the good news, the bad news is that we do see widespread sewage contamination following rain, which is not an uncommon event. 

We have heard a lot of concerns about water quality following Hurricane Sandy. Not only do we generally see the frequency and levels of contamination in the Hudson rise following rain, but because of the flooding, there were a large number of people who would have been exposed to the water, if it was contaminated. So there was justifiable reason for concern. 

Unfortunately, we don’t have any data from during or immediately after the storm. Given the amount of rain (approximately 1 inch overnight), it is possible that there would have been sewage discharges from CSO’s. It is also possible that the enormous volume of water associated with the high tide and storm surge would have diluted any sewage inputs. Without data we cannot say which of these is most likely. 

Given what we know about sewage contamination following storms, we expected that if there were high levels of sewage contamination during the storm, it would be relatively short-lived. The system tends to clean itself out after a sewage input event after 3-4 days although it is variable depending on location and conditions. The exception would be if there was continuing discharge, for example from pipes or pumps that were damaged by the hurricane, or if there was additional precipitation. 

One can speculate and extrapolate all you want, but there really is no way to answer any of the questions about water quality without going out and sampling. You need good data, so we went out and collected some. On Friday Nov 2, 4 days following the storm, John Lipscomb from Riverkeeper was able to collect a few samples from near Manhattan, and I was able to collect a few samples on Nov 6 (once our power came back) from the shore in Rockland Co, north of NYC. Taken together, those samples show acceptable water quality at 7 of 10 locations. The three locations with unacceptably high counts of Enterococcus were Sparkill Creek, Newtown Creek, and Gowanus Canal, all places where we see very frequent contamination problems. So taken together, these limited data suggest that if there was widespread sewage contamination following the hurricane, conditions were reverting back to normal. Unfortunately, for some locations, normal conditions are contaminated. 

Looking at the data in more detail, there is another story that can be identified. The Gowanus sample several days after the hurricane was remarkably high. With an Entero count of  >24200, the water in Gowanus was more than 230 times the threshold where you would close a water body for swimming. We suspect that this sample indicates that there was a continuing release of sewage into the Gowanus canal. This is the level of contamination we see during a rainstorm while CSO’s are flowing, or if there was a broken pipe, pump station, or some other infrastructure problem that caused ongoing release of raw sewage. It is possible that this extremely high level of contamination was related to hurricane damage to sewage treatment infrastructure that has not yet been repaired. 

So we had some evidence for infrastructure problems that might be Hurricane-related, but we had no idea whether that was widespread. We may have caught one instance (in Gowanus), but there could be more, so in the face of continuing concern from the public and the media, we decided to do some more comprehensive sampling on Nov 8th. So that’s more than a week after the Hurricane. Just to make things complicated, the night before our Nov 8 sampling trip, the area was hit by another strong storm, that dumped anywhere from 1 to 6 inches of snow and rain on the ground. We predicted that this winter storm would lead to fairly widespread sewage contamination, as happens just about every time we get precipitation. 

In fact, we did see evidence for widespread sewage contamination on Nov 8., more than 2/3 of the samples we collected had unacceptably high counts of sewage indicating microbes. Because some of those stations were OK a few days earlier, we think that these results are dominated by the impacts of the overnight snow/rain storm. We hope that this highlights the fact that we have a pretty common sewage contamination problem. It’s not necessarily because of big events like Sandy, it happens all the time. Because this type of sewage contamination is common, it really should be more of a concern than the concern we are seeing now about sewage contamination following a big, rare event, like a direct hit from a hurricane. 

Drilling down into the most recent numbers in more detail, we did see very high counts of sewage indicators coming from 2 of the 3 sewage treatment plant outfalls we sampled. We also again found exceeding high counts in Gowanus canal. Those cases do suggest to us that there may be some ongoing infrastructure problems. They are localized, but they need to be fixed. Those kind of infrastructure breakdowns are the kinds of things we would expect to see following a big event, like Hurricane Sandy. However, we cannot definitely connect these specific cases to the Hurricane.

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Bidding Farewell To One Of Carroll Park's Giants

Carroll Park has been closed since Hurricane Sandy because some of the park's beautiful old trees fell down and needed to be cut into sections for removal and others lost limbs and needed to first be inspected by the NYC Park's Department so make sure that they were still sound.
Early this morning, a crew showed up and started by sawing the beautiful old Linden in the rock garden on the President Street side of the park that toppled during the storm.
It was actually very impressive to see the crew at work, but also rather sad to watch. The tree was certainly more than a century old and represent a bit of Carroll Gardens history.
The community should plant a new one in its place as soon as we can.
As soon as the rest of the trees have been trimmed and inspected, the park can be opened to the public again.


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