Hazlet will hold meeting on new flood zone maps BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer HAZLET - The township Environmental Commission went door to door Saturday to inform residents about aMay 20 meeting on revised flood zone maps that may impact their properties. It took about three and a half hours for Annie Eng and other members of the Hazlet Environmental Commission (HEC) to hand out some 750 fliers. Eng and the other members of HEC were authorized by a resolution of the Hazlet Township Committee to take the lead in launching a public awareness campaign and to organize an open public forum to advise and educate residents who will be affected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) preliminary new flood zone maps. "Most of the time when we went to a door to talk about the flood maps, most people were confused," Eng said. "I am glad we were able to help them as much as we could." The HEC met Saturday to begin the door-to-door campaign by passing out fliers and invitations to the FEMA public forum scheduled for May 20. Approximately 640 homes in Hazlet Township,mainly those in theWest Keansburg section (north of Route 36), and possibly a handful adjacent to Chingarora and Flat Creeks, will be affected by the expanded flood zones in the revised maps. As chairwoman of the Environmental Commission, Eng and Vice Chairman Joe Pobega gave an update to the Township Committee of the plans for an open public forum with representatives from FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies scheduled for 8 p.m. on May 20 at Town Hall. Eng and Pobega both expressed appreciation that the Township Committee called on HEC to lead the effort, since this matter is a bipartisan environmental issue, according to Pobega. "The HEC chairs recently conducted a joint presentation with a representative from FEMA regarding this important issue," Pobega said. "Delaying the finalization of the new flood maps will not remove the potential threat of flooding if indeed the new maps are accurate." Members of the HEC walked the West Keansburg section of Hazlet on May 10 to deliver invitations to residents for the May 20 FEMAmeeting and answered any questions that residents had. Eng said thatmany residents recognized her and Pobega from committee meetings and the various committees in town. Eng is the chairwoman of the Hazlet Open Space Committee while Pobega is on the Planning Board. "I think our visibility helped in that they see us as members of the community who are out there getting the word out," Eng said. "When we go to someone's door and they recognize us, we have their attention right away." The group advised citizens that purchasing flood insurance before the new flood maps are finalized will grandfather their home into the National Flood Insurance Plan under the current rates as long as there is no lapse in coverage. The HEC has been reviewing the Community Rating System's 18 creditable activities that could further reduce the cost of flood insurance for Hazlet residents. Eng said that even when was out with her two children, she was flooded with questions, no pun intended. "People just came over and asked what we were doing," Eng said. "We have become very noticeable around the community and everyone has been appreciative of what we are doing." Mayor James DiNardo and Committeeman Joseph Belasco praised Eng and Pobega at the meeting for their continued dedication to Hazlet, though Pobega said he is only doing what he thinks is right. "It is our goal to clear up any confusion, misunderstandings and misinformation … especially for those residents who are most affected by this change" Pobega said. "The welfare of the residents is important to us and we encourage everyone to come and attend this important community meeting on May 20."