Fishkill FEMA 10/10/2012 meeting

Well, after watching the meeting online. Everything I said was true. Plus, the presentation is clear. That this meeting should have occurred PRIOR to the flood maps being voted on. The speakers talk pre tense when this was a past tense meeting.

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Media.aspx This a 2 hour video of the meeting.

1. Fishkill voted in the flood maps for grant money.

2. Fishkill never held a public meeting with FEMA to discus the process.

3. Fishkill never notified the public of the 90 day appeal process.

4. Fishkill never notified the public of the “Grandfather Clause” that allowed the homeowner to get much cheaper insurance. 135 minute begins that discussion.

New items that came up.

***FEMA member Bill McDonald after the 21 minute mark stated the following. “We are here to educate political leaders BEFORE the maps role out.”***

1. Property values have plummeted in homes that need flood insurance.

2. No one wants to buy a home in a flood zone.

3. NYS DEC offered public outreach, no one asked for help.

4. FEMA covers insurance policies for properties worth under $250,000. While they make you have insurance.

5. FEMA wants to remove properties from flood zone areas.

6. Once the $400 “temporary” Flood Insurance runs out in 2 years, Insurance will be around $2,000.

7. It costs $1,100 to survey a property to attempt to be taken off of the flood zones.

8. Citizens complained that flooding was occurring because the town was not cleaning out ditches and drains.

9. Citizens living on McGrath, stated they had little problems prior to Toll at Merritt Park being built. What have I been saying for the last 10 years? More development means more flooding!

10. FEMA literature indicates that banks can force flood insurance 45 days after flood maps are voted into law.

*****************Supervisor LaColla at the beginning of the meeting. Introduced Congresswoman Hayworth, and stated that there would be no political questions. She then stated that the law was passed when she was not in office. However, the Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate and the House, when it was voted into law. In Fishkill, the board that voted this in, is 5-0 GOP. This problem occurred due to GOP polices solely.*******************

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90 DAY APPEAL PROCESS

Immediately before the start of the statutorily required 90-day appeal period for the affected communities, FEMA sends letters to the CEOs—mayors, parish presidents, county executives, etc.—and floodplain administrators of the communities to notify them officially about the publication of the flood hazard determination notices. The 90-day appeal period begins on the second publication date of the notice in the local newspaper(s).

During the 90-day appeal period, any owner or lessee of real property in the mapped community who believes his or her property rights will be adversely affected by the flood hazard determinations may appeal to the community CEO, or to an agency that the CEO publicly designates.

Appeals of the proposed flood hazard determinations shall be based solely on scientific or technical evidence contrary to that of the proposed FIRM and accompanying Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, and all appeal submittals must meet the data requirements defined in Part 67.6 of the NFIP regulations. However, inquiries regarding data other than the proposed flood hazard determinations (e.g., incorrect street names, corporate limits, typographical errors, omissions) which are referred to as 'comments,' will also be considered by FEMA, and any applicable changes will be made before the FIRM and FIS report become effective.

http://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/scripts/bfe_main.asp#4

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Grandfather Clause

You can take advantage of grandfathering by buying a policy before the new maps (known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps or FIRMs) take effect. You'll likely qualify for the NFIP Preferred Risk Policy (PRP), which covers buildings and their contents for as little as $129 for the first year. After the new maps become effective, you can now renew the PRP for two years. On the third renewal, you will qualify for the standard rates associated with moderate-to-low risk zones, rather than high-risk zones. This could add up to significant savings because otherwise, the property will be rated using the high-risk flood zone on the new map.

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flooding_flood_risks/grandfathering.jsp