FEMA Post-Sandy Flood Maps to Present Big Changes
Between the new flood maps and the impact of Biggert-Waters bill, homeowners in affected areas need to take action or find flood insurance premiums going through the roof. Biggert-Waters is law that reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program, and makes a lot of changes. For instance, subsidies will be phased out for many building types other than primary residences. PolycreteUSA has a program to aid in upgrading properties.
Bridgewater, NJ, December 13, 2012 --(PR.com)-- FEMA is set to release new post-Sandy flood maps. Technically known as Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE), these are updated estimates of the water levels associated with a flood event that has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in a given year (the notorious 100 year flood). These maps are being released to the municipalities and the municipalities will have to accept them and incorporate them into their code.
They’re going to show higher elevations than those on the current maps. They’re also going to show coastal flood areas extending further inland than those on the current maps. They’re including re-drawn Advisory Zones, areas of structurally damaging wave action and Hurricane Sandy high water marks.
FEMA began releasing the ABFEs for New Jersey’s inland counties last week. Those for the shore counties are coming out this week, and New York City and Westchester’s new ABFEs will be released next week (12/17/2012). FEMA has not yet decided if Long Island’s maps need to be updated, but the devastation we saw in Amityville alone would tend to imply they do.
A complete re-study of the New York and New Jersey coastline was already in process when Sandy hit. The new maps were scheduled to be released in Mid-2013, but recent events compelled FEMA to put out these advisories in advance of the official release so that intelligent re-building can get underway.
Between the new ABFE flood maps and the ramifications of the Biggert-Waters bill, it’s clear that homeowners in the affected areas need to take some action or they stand to find flood insurance premiums going through the roof.
Biggert-Waters is the law that reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program. It was signed in July 2012 and makes a lot of changes. For instance, subsidies will be phased out for many building types other than primary residences. Even primary residences that have incurred excessive losses in the past will lose the subsidy.
Under Biggert-Waters, rates are also going up if there’s a change of ownership, a lapse in coverage, substantial improvements or “a mapped change in flood risk.”
Building owners should evaluate actions they can take to reduce that risk. Not just because the new rates will reflect the full flood risk of the insured properties, but in order to avoid the heartbreak of being wiped out by another flood.
FEMA recommends strategies to reduce future losses. One of the best is to raise your building above the minimum required elevation. Generally, the higher the building is over the minimum required elevation, the lower the premiums and the lower your flood risk. That just makes sense. And it’s not as complicated as it seems.
Homeowners covered under the National Flood Insurance Program and have damage valued at 50% or more of the pre-market value of the house may be able to get $30,000 towards the cost of elevating the house. It’s called an ICC Claim. If the damage is less than 50%, there are other scenarios and programs that may be able to help cover the cost.
The actual process of elevating the structure is usually pretty straightforward. The contractor will pierce the existing foundation and slip steel girders under the floor joists. Hydraulic jacks are then used to raise the building up off the foundation.
If the existing foundation is damaged or made from concrete block, the contractor will want to remove it and replaced with a cast in place concrete foundation. Polycrete® ICFs are a very fast, economical way to retrofit a cast in place foundation on an existing structure.
Different categories of flood advisory zones call for different types of foundations, so homeowners will need to check with a structural engineer and local building officials to determine what sort of new foundation is required for the structure.
PolycreteUSA has compiled a list qualified architects and structural engineers, as well as recommended, licensed contractors who can handle the job. The list is available to the general public free of all obligation.
They’re going to show higher elevations than those on the current maps. They’re also going to show coastal flood areas extending further inland than those on the current maps. They’re including re-drawn Advisory Zones, areas of structurally damaging wave action and Hurricane Sandy high water marks.
FEMA began releasing the ABFEs for New Jersey’s inland counties last week. Those for the shore counties are coming out this week, and New York City and Westchester’s new ABFEs will be released next week (12/17/2012). FEMA has not yet decided if Long Island’s maps need to be updated, but the devastation we saw in Amityville alone would tend to imply they do.
A complete re-study of the New York and New Jersey coastline was already in process when Sandy hit. The new maps were scheduled to be released in Mid-2013, but recent events compelled FEMA to put out these advisories in advance of the official release so that intelligent re-building can get underway.
Between the new ABFE flood maps and the ramifications of the Biggert-Waters bill, it’s clear that homeowners in the affected areas need to take some action or they stand to find flood insurance premiums going through the roof.
Biggert-Waters is the law that reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program. It was signed in July 2012 and makes a lot of changes. For instance, subsidies will be phased out for many building types other than primary residences. Even primary residences that have incurred excessive losses in the past will lose the subsidy.
Under Biggert-Waters, rates are also going up if there’s a change of ownership, a lapse in coverage, substantial improvements or “a mapped change in flood risk.”
Building owners should evaluate actions they can take to reduce that risk. Not just because the new rates will reflect the full flood risk of the insured properties, but in order to avoid the heartbreak of being wiped out by another flood.
FEMA recommends strategies to reduce future losses. One of the best is to raise your building above the minimum required elevation. Generally, the higher the building is over the minimum required elevation, the lower the premiums and the lower your flood risk. That just makes sense. And it’s not as complicated as it seems.
Homeowners covered under the National Flood Insurance Program and have damage valued at 50% or more of the pre-market value of the house may be able to get $30,000 towards the cost of elevating the house. It’s called an ICC Claim. If the damage is less than 50%, there are other scenarios and programs that may be able to help cover the cost.
The actual process of elevating the structure is usually pretty straightforward. The contractor will pierce the existing foundation and slip steel girders under the floor joists. Hydraulic jacks are then used to raise the building up off the foundation.
If the existing foundation is damaged or made from concrete block, the contractor will want to remove it and replaced with a cast in place concrete foundation. Polycrete® ICFs are a very fast, economical way to retrofit a cast in place foundation on an existing structure.
Different categories of flood advisory zones call for different types of foundations, so homeowners will need to check with a structural engineer and local building officials to determine what sort of new foundation is required for the structure.
PolycreteUSA has compiled a list qualified architects and structural engineers, as well as recommended, licensed contractors who can handle the job. The list is available to the general public free of all obligation.
Contact
PolycreteUSA, LLC
Bruce Anderson
804-441-6234
www.PolycreteUSA.com
Bruce Anderson
804-441-6234
www.PolycreteUSA.com
Contact
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