Congress Must Fix Biggert-Waters....

Congress shouldn't let flood insurance sink residents: Editorial

By The Editorial Board, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 

Bayou Gauche residents Lisa and Robert Taylor thought they had done everything right. Their home was "built to the standards FEMA gave to the builder; our home was above [the standards]," Mr. Taylor said Thursday. Now FEMA has changed the flood elevation. "They're telling me I have to pay $28,000 to insure my home for flood. I can't do that," Mr. Taylor said.

The Taylors, who appeared alongside parish presidents from across South Louisiana at a press conference Friday, are just one example of the drastic increase in flood insurance costs rippling through coastal communities.

Fortunately, some members of Congress have realized that they created immense hardship with the 2012 Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which was touted as a way to make the National Flood Insurance Program self-sufficient. The problem was that no thought was given to making sure homeowners and businesses could afford the new rates.

Despite a setback Tuesday on Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu's amendment to put the rate increases on hold temporarily, there seems to be momentum growing to fix the problems caused by Biggert-Waters.

California Rep. Maxine Waters, whose name is on the flood insurance act, said it was "never the intent of Congress to impose the types of punitive and unaffordable flood insurance premiums that residents of southern Louisiana are currently facing." She promised to work on a solution.

All four senators from New York and New Jersey, states that were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy's surge in October, were cosponsors on Sen. Landrieu's amendment. Two members of the House from New York and New Jersey are part of a bipartisan caucus announced Friday by Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy to find ways to make flood insurance affordable.

Sen. Landrieu's office said Friday that she is crafting a standalone flood insurance bill that will be more comprehensive than her amendment was. She is determined, she said, to make sure "flood insurance is affordable, accessible and self-sustainable."

Sen. David Vitter and Rep. Cedric Richmond will co-chair the flood insurance caucus along with Rep. Cassidy. And Sen. Vitter attended the press conference at the Taylors' home Friday.

They and their neighbors in St. Charles Parish are seeing huge increases in policy costs because an existing levee that had been included on previous flood maps was removed, putting them 7 to 10 feet below base flood elevation.

That put them on a collision with Biggert-Waters, which eliminated grandfather clauses allowing property owners to keep their original flood rating even if new maps were issued.

The sudden and drastic increases in the cost may mean that some homeowners won't be able to keep flood insurance. It is unclear what will happen to people with mortgages, since lenders require flood insurance as a condition of loans. The changes also could make it impossible to sell homes and businesses, since the new buyer would face the same flood insurance dilemma.

The results could be devastating for individuals and for the economic well being of hundreds of coastal communities from Texas to Maine and along the Pacific coast.

The gathering of parish presidents Friday at the Taylor home grew out of a trip to Washington a week ago by a delegation from Louisiana organized by GNO Inc. On that trip, the group got an important concession from the head of the flood insurance program. He agreed to give communities credit for locally built levees in the agency's new flood maps -- not just federal levees.

It is unclear exactly how that will play out, though. And broader changes to Biggert-Waters clearly are needed.

Under the act, homeowners living in V or A zones subject to flooding from a 100-year storm will see their rates increase to reflect actual risk in 20 percent steps over five years. As has become clear, the increases for some residents will be staggering.

Insurance costs will vary depending on how many feet above or below base flood elevation a house sits. People who've elevated their homes sufficiently will see a drop in policy costs.

But a home 10 feet below base flood elevation would get a bill topping $25,000 per year -- like the Taylors' -- which is like having another mortgage payment.

It is important to reduce the flood insurance program's $24 billion debt. But it isn't fair to put such a heavy burden on people who live and work along the coast.

"All of the hard work my wife and I have done to put money into paying off our home, trying to do the best we can to pay it off early ... now my home is being taken away," Mr. Taylor said. That's not right, and Congress should make sure it doesn't happen.

Louisiana battle against Biggert-Waters and FEMA gathers momemtum....

Sen. David Vitter accepts a container of keys from Lisa Taylor 

as her husband Robert speaks to a crowd 

gathered in the Taylor residence's driveway.

Vitter in Bayou Gauche to speak about action on flood insurance rate hikes

By Kyle Barnett - May 17, 2013

Little more than a week after officials from 14 parishes took a trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby against potential flood insurance rate hikes, some of those same officials convened with Sen. David Vitter at the home of a Bayou Gauche couple.

The issue at hand was the fight against the Biggert-Waters Act, which was attached to a transportation bill that passed last year. It would disallow the grandfathering of insurance policies on homes that were placed above base flood elevation at the time of their construction.

The Biggert-Waters Act comes as new FEMA maps have been introduced that would not recognize some current flood barriers, such as the Sunset Drainage District levee, and lower base flood elevations in other areas that have never flooded before.

The communities of Luling, Boutte, Paradis, Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands would be the most affected in the parish potentially  requiring homeowners to pay thousands to tens of thousands of dollars for flood insurance premiums each year instead of only the few hundred dollars they currently pay. 

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said if the large flood insurance rate hikes expected under the Biggert-Water Act are allowed to go through many local residents may have to leave their homes.

"Imagine for a second what it must feel like," he siad. "You sacrifice and you work for your entire life to afford a home to raise your family. You may have even started a business or worked long hours at a local job and now because you’ve done everything right, built or purchased homes that were built to the correct elevations at the time of construction you could be forced out at no fault of your own." 

The event was held at the home of Bayou Gauche residents Robert and Lisa Taylor who were quoted by FEMA as potentially having to pay $28,000 per year in flood insurance if the Biggert-Waters Act is fully enacted and the FEMA maps are accepted.

The Taylors have been part of a grassroots effort to bring attention to the Biggert-Waters Act and its potential negative effects on large parts of the West Bank of St. Charles Parish. They notably collected over 1,000 keys from local residents who packed into a town hall meeting in mid-April to hear about the potential flood insurance rate increases related to the Biggert-Waters Act. 

Robert became emotional as he spoke to the gathered crowd.

“Despite never having flooded before, building to specifications that FEMA gave us and even building our own levees to protect us, FEMA has decided we are now a flood hazard area,” he said. “To the rest of the country heed this warning–the Biggert-Waters Act and FEMA are coming to you. Millions of homes in this country are going to be deemed as flood risks, even where flooding has never been an issue before, you are at risk.”

The Taylors presented Vitter with a container holding all of the keys they collected at the town hall meeting.

“These 1,109 keys represent the homes and businesses that residents turned in at our last town hall meeting. Take them back to Washington, tell the legislators there that unless this law changes these keys are useless to us,” Robert said. “Our community and thousands of other across the country will cease to exist if they don’t take action now. From all across this nation with one clear voice and one clear message, we will say no.”

Vitter accepted the container and promised he would spread the community’s message.  

“I’ll be personally traveling with it to Washington to help make this point which is so important. I am going to personally deliver it to FEMA and then before have it on the Senate floor to talk about it,” he said. 

Vitter said he is at the forefront of building as coalition of lawmakers who will support changing or repealing the Biggert-Waters Act.

Last week, just prior to the visit from local officials, Sen. Mary Landrieu proposed an amendment that would delay the introduction of any rate increase for at least six months until a study can be completed on the potential effects. Vitter signed onto the amendment as a co-author two days later, however, Sen. Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania, blocked a Senate vote on the amendment.

Vitter said Tommey, a fellow Republican, should not have stopped the amendment.   

“I spoke to Sen. Toomey at some length and, number one, I think that he got a number of his facts wrong and doesn’t yet understand the issue. Number two, he didn’t just oppose and amendment, he blocked a vote on an amendment and I think that is just outrageous in principle,” he said.

If anything, Vitter said Toomey’s actions helped spread the word about the Biggert-Waters Act.

“Even though we did not get a vote, that exercise this past week was very helpful because it helped spur the coalition and help build the coalition,” he said. “We got a lot of support, maybe not Pat Toomey, but folks from the Gulf Coast along with the Sandy area along with California along with others. Many folks said this is not some narrow South Louisiana issue that’s the fact and the more we can get that fact across the better we will do.”

GNO Inc. was responsible for putting together both D.C. trip and the event at the Taylor residence.

Michael Hecht, GNO Inc. president and CEO, said his organization’s goal is to protect the communities that would be the most affected by the Biggert-Waters Act and that he has already received assurances from congressional delegates in New York, New Jersey, Alabama and Mississippi who will join Louisiana’s effort to stop flood insurance rate hikes.
 

“What’s happening in South Plaquemines Parish is going to happen in Southern Manahattan, it’s going to happen in St. Charles and it is going to happen in Sacramento. So we’re not in his alone and that’s a good thing,” he said.

Also speaking at the event were St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, Jefferson Parish President John Young and Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet.

Those who attended, but did not speak were Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel, State Rep. Greg Miller, New Orleans City Councilman James Gray, St. Charles Parish Assesor Tab Troxler, St. Charles Parish Councilwoman-at-large Carolyn Schexnayder, St. Charles Parish Councilwoman of Norco Traci Fletcher and President of the River Regions Chamber of Commerce Mike Palamone.

Louisiana Parish Presidents band together to fight Biggert-Waters Act

Parish presidents band together to fight against Biggert-Waters, flood insurance rate hikes

By Juliet Linderman, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

May 17, 2013

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre is one of a coalition of parish presidents from across South Louisiana fighting to amend the Biggert-Waters Act.

Five area parish presidents will gather Friday morning at the home of St. Charles Parish residents Lisa and Robert Taylor in Bayou Gauche to discuss the anticipated ramifications of the Biggert-Waters Act on local communities, and lay out a road map for fighting against the implementation of the controversial law.

The Biggert-Waters Act was signed into law in July of 2012, and eliminates flood insurance subsidies to homeowners, as well as the practice of “grandfathering” – allowing a property to maintain its current flood insurance rate because it was built in accordance to previously established standards. By eliminating the grandfathering clause, homeowners who built in compliance to prior codes will be faced with astronomical flood insurance rate hikes as their communities are re-mapped. The reason for the increases is to stabilize the National Flood Insurance Program, which is roughly $27 billion in debt.

Two weeks ago, seven parish presidents and representatives from 14 parishes across Louisiana traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the Louisiana congressional delegation and advocate for amending the law, and reinstating an updated version of the grandfathering clause in which insurance rates would remain attached to the properties rather than individual homeowners.

The projected flood insurance rate increases, especially for residents living in Bayou Gauche, Des Allemands and Paradis – where an existing levee that was reflected on previous flood insurance rate maps was removed from the most recent maps, increasing base flood elevation levels for residents by a measure of ten feet – are astronomical.

“You can do everything right: our home was built to the standards FEMA gave to the builder; our home was above [the standards],” said Robert Taylor, the meeting’s host. “Now FEMA is coming back after the game and saying, ‘Sorry, we were wrong. This is what the flood elevation should have been, and this is what it costs.' They’re telling me I have to pay $28,000 to ensure my home for flood. I can’t do that; my home is going to go away. All of the hard work my wife and I have done to put money into paying off our home, trying to do the best we can to pay it off early…now my home is being taken away.”

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre, who traveled to Washington, D.C., with the Louisiana delegation, said that although the fight against Biggert-Waters consists of “baby steps,” he and other Louisiana officials are “not ready to give up the fight. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. “We don’t want a hand-out – we want the National Flood Insurance Program to be self-sufficient, too – but it needs to be reasonable.”

St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister who also traveled to Washington, D.C., two weeks ago, and returned to the nation’s capital last week, said the most important thing to understand is that “when we talk about flood insurance plans, it’s more than just South Louisiana, even though we’re leading the charge. The biggest message is, this is going to affect a lot of people around the country,” she added. “It’s about more than just us.” Brister said that outside of the Louisiana congressional delegation, other lawmakers – including Sen. Chuck Schumer, D–N.Y. and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. are also on board.

“Two solutions are, grandfathering has to be reinstated for structures that have been built to code, and not suffered from repetitive losses,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of GNO, Inc., the economic development organization that organized the Washington, D.C. trip. “The second is that the [flood] maps need to be made more holistic, to take into account physical features like levees and pumping systems that mitigate flooding, as opposed to considering only 100-year hurricane protection levees.

“This is one of the purest examples of unintended consequences that I think we’ve seen,” Hecht added. “I don’t think anyone thought [Biggert-Waters] would punish those who followed the letter of the law. One of our challenges is managing this period of uncertainty, as we move from unintended ocnsequense to statutory and administrative solutions.”

St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom said that she and her fellow parish presidents have been working together to draft a new piece of legislation regarding the grandfathering clause, and may attempt to move it through Congress. Just this week, an amendment sponsored by Sen. David Vitter,R-La., and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., that would have delayed the new federal flood insurance rules for five years failed by one vote.

"We've started working on draft language that we think would be fair...and may be looking at introducing a new bill," said Robottom. "We need to have solutions."

In this week's WAVE - Broad Channel Vollies

The following excerpt is from Dan Guarino's column, Broad Channel Bits,  from this week's edition of the WAVE.

For more than 100 years the Broad Channel Vollies have come to the aid of anyone in need. Now the BCVFD can use the aid of anyone and everyone who can lend a hand.

Chief Dan McIntyre explains, this is “a call for volunteers for the BCVFD; we are in desperate need since many of our members are still displaced and living off the island. We are currently operating with 12 on island members; we need 20-25 members to meet our obligations.

Former members are especially welcome. NOW is the time to step up.

Anyone who can answer the phone is welcome.

Also our Junior Department is very active. All kids between 12 and 18 welcome. The Vollies Junior Department is part of Boy Scouts of America, Explorers program, Learning for Life. It’s recognized by all schools to meet community service requirements now required by Department of Education.”

Even if you can do a little it will mean a lot! Stop by the firehouse on Noel Road or call 718- 474-6888

IMPORTANT ADVISORY - BROAD CHANNEL CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING [WED. 5/22/2013]

IMPORTANT ADVISORY

This month's Broad Channel Civic Association meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd at the American Legion at 7:30 p.m.

Various city agencies will be present at this meeting to discuss the Broad Channel Flood Mitigation Project involving the construction of new bulkheads at the end of West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads and the raising of streets on each of those roads.

I am sure you are all aware that in March of this year, the city advised us that a re-examination of the drainage system for this project would result in a delay of the start of construction for one year.

Reacting swiftly, the Broad Channel community and our elected representatives called the city to task in this regard and in mid-March the city revised their stance and stated that the project was "back on track" and scheduled to be put out for bid next month (June 2013) with construction to start mid to late summer this year, 2013.

Inquiries are now being made by the city as to the numbers of residents on the affected roads (W11th, 12th and 13th) are rebuilding and/or are raising their homes.

Given the city's recent failed attempt back in March of this year to delay this project until 2014, we must consider the possibility as to whether the city is attempting to utilize such rebuilding/raising data to, once again, attempt to delay the start of this project by using the new FEMA flood maps and insurance regulations as a means of delaying (or possibly killing) this Capital Project.

It must also be kept in mind that there is an election this coming November which will bring us a new Mayor, a new Queens Borough President and possibly a new City Council representative for our CD District 32.

Additionally, Queens DOT Commissioner Maura McCarthy retired earlier this year and has been replaced.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility that should the city be allowed to delay this project, with the pending new city administration resulting from the November elections, the funding for this initiative could "disappear".

We are urging all residents of West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads to attend the Broad Channel Civic Association meeting later this month on Wednesday (not the usual Thursday), May 22nd to make sure the city understands that we fully expect this project to go forward as presently scheduled.

As only a portion of the $24 million in funding for this project will be expended for work on the the three roads presently scheduled, it is also strongly recommended that the entire Broad Channel community attend this meeting as those monies will ultimately be used for mitigation purposes for other areas within our town.

We are also requesting that our elected representatives also attend this meeting to support us in this matter.

Additionally, we will be inviting various media representatives to attend this meeting.

I know we are all tired of dealing with insurance companies, FEMA, banks, contractors, architects, engineers, the Small Business Business Administration, etc., trying to get our lives back together but this is one more issue that we must fully engage by coming together as a community for the ultimate good of Broad Channel.

Remember the date:

Wednesday
May 22, 2013
American Legion Hall
7:30 p.m.

Please share this information with your family and friends and ask them to attend this meeting also. 

News from VFW "Prince Wynn" Post 260 Broad Channel

“The VFW is coming along. Habitat for Humanity from Westchester just donated all the insulation and sheetrock we need to start to rebuild the Hall. Little by little we are working together to get it complete. We would like to tell everyone that we are always thinking of you all.

After all that we have been through, and are still going through, may there be a light at the end of everyone’s tunnel. The Ladies Auxiliary wishes to extend a heartfelt hug to each and every one.

On May 26th the VFW will be hosting the Memorial Day parade. The parade will start at 1:30 p.m. All participants will meet at Rock N Roll Bagel at 12:30 p.m. to line up. If anyone wishes to march, please leave a message at the Post. The phone number is 718-634- 5106.

We would gladly appreciate anyone or group who would like to participate. This year we will have Joe Addabbo, Eric Ulrich, Lew Simon and Phil Goldfeder marching with us. Our honorees will be the veterans from St. Albans Hospital, the VFW and the American Legion. Also marching will be the Broad Channel Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Afterwards please join us at the VFW Post for some hot dogs and beverages with our veterans.

Remember it’s Memorial Day. Let’s come outside and greet and thank our men and women who have served us.

During the next two weeks our members from the Post will be out having our Poppy Drive on Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel. The funds raised provide so many activities, like Bingo, BBQs, dinners, Christmas parties and more for the entire year for our disabled and hospitalized veterans. ALL donations are used solely to support them. Thank you.

On Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, 2nd, the VFW will open our back yard to all community yardsale. You can reserve a table for $10. There will be a VFW table, too! We will have raffles, a 50/50, cotton candy, hot dogs, and refreshments. Proceeds go to rebuild our VFW Post 260. Reservations for tables are required. Please leave a message at 646-344-2640.

On Saturday, June 8th, 4 to 8 p.m. there will be a “Fundraiser For VFW Post 260, Broad Channel.” This event will be hosted by Patty G’s at 86-24 Broadway in Elmhurst. 50/50s, raffles, food and more. Please come and support our nation’s heroes. All proceeds to go to rebuild VFW Post 260.

And lastly, SAVE THE DATE for our BBQ. Everyone come out and spend the day together. Saturday June 22nd. $20 adults/$10 kids donation.

Again, stay strong!”

Josette Correa-Turchio

President

Ladies Auxiliary

VFW Post 260

Broad Channel N.Y.

In this weeks WAVE - BC Mardi Gras Kick Off Coming

BC Mardi Gras Kick Off Coming

By Dan Guarino

Broad Channel children dressed up for Mardi Gras and 

pulling their own float, circa 1953. 

Photo courtesy of Michele Bradford/Melis Bradford

On Sunday, May 26th, at 2 p.m. the Broad Channel Athletic Association will host a Mardi Gras Kickoff Party at the BCAC Memorial Field of Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel.

Says BCAC’s Jack Allen, “Come join us to celebrate the start of summer and a great Broad Channel tradition.

“We will have pickup family softball and volleyball games, a bouncy house and slide for the kids, cotton candy and face painting as well as music and other activities for the whole family,” noted Allen.

“Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages will be for sale.

“We will also be accepting contestants for all Mardi Gras committees, (such as for) Mayor, Babyface, Best Block and so on.

“Hope to see you at the field!”

The Broad Channel Mardi Gras is a fundraising tradition that stretches back more than 100 years. Residents host various activities throughout the summer, competing to raise the most donations for the community.

Funds are raised alternately for the BCAC and the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department each year.

The original BC Mardi Gras was initiated to raise money to build the island’s firehouse, which is still standing and in use today.

In this weeks WAVE - Schumer Fighting Flood Premiums But...

Schumer Fighting Flood Premiums But…

By Kevin Boyle

“Flood insurance is a mess.” In a visit to The Wave on Monday, Senator Charles Schumer echoed the sentiments of homeowners throughout the area who’ve just learned in recent weeks they could be facing flood insurance premiums of $9500 a year or more.

As The Wave reported previously, in an attempt to put the National Flood Insurance Program on better financial footing Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Act in June, 2012. In doing so, Schumer and his colleagues allowed FEMA to implement costly insurance premiums. By the new rules, FEMA could charge premiums as high as $32,000 a year in a “V” flood zone. In the more common “A Zone” mapped areas, premiums are still expensive with the highest rate projected to be more than $25,000 per year.

The often-referred to amount of $9500 a year is the approximate figure FEMA uses to illustrate how expensive insurance will get unless homes meet certain elevation requirements. In fact, the costs could be considerably higher using FEMA’s less advertised models. Homes with basements, for example, would carry premiums closer to $20,000 per year.

Although Schumer supported the original legislation that triggered the expensive premiums, he backed a recent move by Senate colleague, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, to freeze premiums for five years. She attempted to add an amendment to a new bill before the Senate but the effort was turned back by Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania who filed an “objection” thereby not even allowing the amendment to move to a vote. Toomey made statements supporting the Biggert-Waters act and the need to remove government subsidies from flood insurance. After her amendment attempt failed, Landrieu responded, pointing out that flood insurance is a national issue and that thousands of people in Toomey’s own state of Pennsylvania have flood insurance supported by subsidies.

For his part, before Toomey rejected Landrieu’s attempt, Schumer wasn’t convinced Landrieu’s amendment would proceed. “I’m not going to tell you it’s going to pass. We’re just fighting as hard as we can. And if doesn’t pass, we’ll come back with another amendment.”

When asked why he voted for Biggert Waters in the first place, Schumer said FEMA was not forthcoming about the costs. We had to vote “because if we didn’t there would have been no flood insurance for anybody. And I knew it would go up a little bit. I never thought it would be this. They never gave us a number close to $9500. And now, I don’t trust the flood insurance program. You get different answers from them all the time.”

Schumer said there has to be significant changes to make flood insurance affordable. “We can’t have millions of homeowners not able to afford their homes.” He said he expects there will be opposition to changes in the law but because A Zones exist in all 50 states it will only be a matter of time before bipartisan agreement takes place. “I can’t imagine how anyone would not want to change it (Biggert-Waters).” Landrieu said the law was “the cure that could kill us.”

Landrieu has been out front on the issue and has the support of Schumer and fellow New York Senator Gillibrand. New Jersey Senators have voiced strong support as well. But Toomey’s stance – that subsidies must end — is a signal that Schumer and the others face difficult opposition in Congress. That opposition will be the reason homeowners in Rockaway including Breezy Point and Broad Channel face the potentially devastating consequences of runaway insurance premiums.

Schumer remained insistent: “If we don’t win this time, we’re going to win. We’re going to win this fight.” In an address to colleagues in the Senate on Wednesday after Landrieu’s amendment was rejected, Schumer said, “Many of my colleagues will begin to hear from their constituents about the challenges they’re facing as flood insurance premiums are increased and they will ultimately act to fix this problem once and for all.”

Revised flood maps are expected to be issued within the next two weeks.

In this weeks FORUM....FEMA Editorial

SCHUMER SAYS NO WAY FEMA….

VOWS TO KEEP FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS DOWN

Last week we advised readers of the newspapers intention to formally request a coordinated effort from our United States Senators to protect the victims of Hurricane Sandy from further devastation at the hands of FEMA and insurance companies.  Both entities are likely looking to put a bounty on the heads of homeowners throughout the communities affected by the impending release of the revised FEMA flood maps.

It seems that Sen. Charles Schumer, as well as Sen. Kirsten Gillebrand have signed into the school of thought that enough FEMA is enough. The senators have taken a step in the support of a movement, growing rapidly across this state and many others, to combat the modifications to flood maps that will send premiums soaring and concurrently force residents to do costly physical renovations and alterations to their homes.

Both Schumer and Gillebrand have signed on to back an amendment  to a bill currently before the senate introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

The amendment would immediately stop and premium increase before FEMA holds an affordability study and also affords the necessary time to act in accordance or legitimately challenge any results.

It is true that FEMA is presently required to conduct such a study in conjunction with the passage of the Biggert-Waters bill, however there is nothing to stop the rate hikes before the study is completed . The proposed amendment would turn that provision around, mandating the completion of the study prior to any consideration of rate hikes.

Prior to the enactment of the legislation, the senator from Louisiana tried to request a delay from FEMA but the agency apparently deliberate failure to act prompted the creation of the amendment.

Schumer and Gillebrand loaned their immediate support to the measure and in a statement, Schumer declared his staunch support for the measure which “staves off massive looming flood insurance hikes.”

Schemer also acknowledged in his statement that he not only supports Landreiu’s amendment with his vote but with his “assistance in the effort to pass it.”

Schumer went to bat for the amendment on the floor of the senate. Speaking to his colleagues he said: It’s unfair to hit homeowners with massive new flood insurance premiums without any plans to address the needs of those who cant afford these out of control premiums. People are upset and they should be.”

More and more groups are calling for the support of elected officials in battling back against the potential crippling measures which could come as a result of the passage of the Biggert-Waters Act and the revisions to FEMA flood maps.

Residents are urged to call their senators and encourage the continued and full support of legislative measures that target the elimination of the possibility of astronomical premiums.

Watch for our continued coverage as we near the release of the revised flood maps at the end of this month.

By Patricia Adams

NYC to offer free summer ferry service for Manhattan and Brooklyn....but not Rockaway?

Free ferry service to drive business to Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Red Hook

BY JENNIFER FERMINO / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013, 8:17 AM

Mayor Bloomberg said the free ferry from lower Manhattan to the Red Hook Fairway and Ikea superstores will help the community recover from Hurricane Sandy. The ferry will make three stops: Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan, Van Brunt Street and the Ikea landing.

The hipster summer weekend just got a little bit sweeter.

To help Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Red Hook, the city is starting a free ferry service between lower Manhattan and two of Brooklyn’s shopping destinations — Fairway and Ikea.

The service will operate every 25 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays from May 25 through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

It includes three stops: Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan, Van Brunt Street and the Ikea landing.

The goal isn’t to help millenials get cheap furniture and artisanal cheeses, but to stimulate business in Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Red Hook.

"We're making it easier than ever for New Yorkers to get to small businesses ... to help the community continue to recover," said Mayor Bloomberg.

The Fairway store was flooded with five feet of water and was shuttered for four months.

Some service exists between Pier 11 and the Ikea Landing, but in a very limited capacity.

The Van Brunt stop is the site of an old ferry terminal that was not being used.

Manhattan-bound riders will be eligible for a free transfer at Pier 11 to Midtown ferries.