Updated NYC Flood Maps Give Hope To Jersey Shore Residents

Updated NYC Flood Maps Give Hope To Jersey Shore Residents

June 10, 2013

·                                 By Daniel Nee

Jersey Shore residents placed into the dreaded 'V' zone in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's advisory flood maps released in late 2012may soon see some relief, if an updated round of maps released for New York City residents is any indication.

The federal agency released preliminary flood maps – generally, the second-to-last step before final maps are issued – on Monday.

According to a report by WNYC radio, major swaths of coastal land were removed from the 'V,' or velocity, zone there.

Coastal areas prone to flooding are generally divided between 'A' and 'V' zones. Those in 'A' zones may elevate their homes using block foundations, while those in 'V' zones must account for the potential for flowing water to impact their homes by raising them on piling foundations, which are significantly more costly than block foundations.

Homeowners whose structures were more than 50 percent damaged by Sandy will be required to elevate them to the standards called for the by the new FEMA maps. There is also a looming threat that flood insurance rates could skyrocket to $31,000 annually for homes that are not elevated.

After the advisory maps were issued in December, an outcry from coastal residents emerged as it was later found out that features such as dunes, bulkheads, docks and other structures that could reduce the impact of waves were not considered. The lack of that data was blamed for the the placement of thousands of homes in 'V' zones that previously had not been classified as such.

In Brick Township alone, more than 4,000 additional homes were placed into 'V' zones, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis has said.

According to the report from WNYC, the neighborhood of Broad Channel in Queens and part of the Oakwood Beach section of Staten Island were originally in 'V' zones, but have been taken out of the zone under the latest maps.

A FEMA spokesperson said Monday that New Jersey's updated maps would be released later this month, though no exact date was provided.

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