Flood Elevation and Flood Insurance Resources for Property Owners
FEMA's latest 'Sandy Recovery Bulletin' includes links to information on a new base flood elevation map and what it means to flood insurance policy holders.
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NEW ADVISORY BASE FLOOD ELEVATION MAPS AVAILABLE
The state of New Jersey and FEMA have released Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps for 10 coastal counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. To access the new maps, visit www.Region2coastal.com and click on the Hurricane Sandy tab.
The page referenced above includes the following direct links:
- Advisory Base Flood Elevations in New Jersey
- Search for ABFE by address in Ocean City
- Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) Frequently Asked Questions
- Changes in the Flood Insurance Program: Early Considerations for Rebuilding
IMPORTANT DEADLINES EXTENDED
FEMA Registration - Survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey have until Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. FEMA encourages anyone who suffered damages from Hurricane Sandy from Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, 2012, to apply for assistance before the deadline.
SBA Physical Damage Loan Applications - The deadline for applicants in New Jersey to request a physical damage loan from the SBA has been extended until Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
RESOURCES FOR COPING WITH HURRICANE SANDY
FEMA
FEMA disaster assistance registration and helpline: 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585.
Apply online for assistance: DisasterAssistance.gov.
Smartphone/tablet: m.FEMA.gov/Sandy.
New Jersey/FEMA housing resources: FEMA.gov/HousingPortal.
To find the nearest disaster recovery center: FEMA.gov/DRCLocator or Text “DRC” and your “zip code” to 43362.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Customer Service Center: 800-659-2955, TTY 800-877-8339 or visit http://www.sba.gov/.
Secure online disaster loan application: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Resources for Rebuilding
National Flood Insurance Program help center (for help with questions on filing claims or claims status):
800-427-4661.
Stronger, safer, protected houses and communities: FEMA resources for rebuilding.
Protecting your home and property from flood damage: Mitigation ideas for reducing flood loss: an extensive collection of ideas.
Home builder's guide to coastal construction: 37 fact sheets for areas subject to wind and flood forces.
Above the flood: elevating your flood-prone house: Examples from south Florida.
Wind retrofit guide for residential buildings: How to improve wind resistance of existing buildings.
Anchoring home fuel tanks (DVD): Describes methods for anchoring tanks.
Best Build I: building coastal homes: Safe and cost effective ways to build coastal homes.
FEMA WORKS TO HELP NEW JERSEY MEET SANDY HOUSING NEEDS
FEMA and its partners are addressing the housing needs of people displaced by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Our top priority is to help survivors return to their homes or help them find a safe alternative if returning home is not an option.
More than 51,000 households have received FEMA grants to make essential repairs to their homes or secure alternative housing. For those who cannot return home, the goal is to help them find a rental property close by. This is better for survivors and helps the whole community recover.
The state of New Jersey and FEMA have identified hundreds of homes and apartments available for rent. Households that qualified for FEMA assistance may use their FEMA rental assistance for the security deposit and rent for these units. Households that previously told FEMA they did not need housing may still request FEMA assistance to move to rental housing if their housing situation has changed.
The number of available units changes constantly as units are occupied and new listings are added. Rentals are listed at http://www.socialserve.com where you can select the New Jersey link to do a search.
RESOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL NEEDS
New Jersey disaster case management: 877-510-6762 or email at dcmNewJersey@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.
Clean-up resources and local recovery efforts: 2-1-1 or online at NJ211.org.
New Jersey Helps: NJhelps.org.
American Red Cross: 800-733-2767 or online at RedCross.org.
New Jersey Hope and Healing: 877-294-HELP (4357), TTY 877-294-4356.
National disaster stress helpline: 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
Missing pets: 855-407-4787.
Disaster legal assistance: 888-541-1900.
Disaster unemployment: Online at NJuifile.net
Union City: 201-601-4100
Freehold: 732-761-2020
Cumberland: 856-507-2340
— News bulletin from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
ynot
9:13 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
I just received my renewal homeowners policy and could not believe the increase in my Catastrophe premium, up over 35% and when I called the insurance company I was told that this increase was passed by the state.
Is this how we are going to rebuild the shore...on the backs of the none water front residents ?
Resident of Lacey
9:30 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
I fear it is only the start...
... get ready I expect more will be coming too...
Condor
9:44 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Your homeowners policy has nothing to do with flood insurance. If you think that's bad. Wait until the waterfront homeowners get their flood insurance premiums.
Kaboom! Prepare yourselves. Someone has to pay this money back and it's not going to be the non waterfront residents. It's going to be the waterfront residents with flood insurance policies.. They are the ones who contribute to FEMA. All flood insurance policies are FEMA, no matter what insurance company is servicing it.
FEMA has nothing to do with homeowners insurance. FEMA is the government.
proud
1:43 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
@Condor, depending on the zone they live in, many non waterfront owners with a mortgage are required to carry flood insurance by their lender. The rate that is paid for flood insurance is based based on the first floor elevation, which varies from zone to zone. Therefore, your theory doesn't hold any water, so to speak.
Condor
2:35 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Ok, so watefront homeowners and non watefront homeowners that live near the water. The ones that pay into flood insurance. Still doesn't have anything to do with homeowners ins.
proud
2:57 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
@Condor, correct-- I think. That you contend that flood and homeowner insurance are mutually exclusive, i would agree that you are correct. FEMA is an agency of the federal government, that has many functions. Premiums from the National Flood Insurance Program are a fractional portion of the funding of said agency (FEMA). If what you are trying to say is that flood insurance rates will increase in areas affected by Sandy, I would again have to agree with you. So, Kaboom! to you.
Michelle Finne Richardson
1:40 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
KABOOOM