Bayshore residents get answers from FEMA
Pallone calls for a moratorium on flood maps
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer
Unlike most of the 200 residents who showed up for a meeting June 13, Keansburg resident Bernie Rudnicky was sure he hadn't been added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's revised flood zone maps, but he'd come to the Bayshore Senior Center to see what all the commotion was about.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR With help from Chris Gould (left) of the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, Sam Minor of Keyport and his neighbor, 10-year-old Matt Oviedo, examines one of the many maps of the area during a meeting held by FEMA about the agency's new fllod maps, at the Bayshore Senior Center in Keansburg on June 13.

Rudnicky walked up to the table labeled "Keansburg Property Identification" to see what the map of his block looked like and who would be on the map.

"So, I'm the fourth house down, I just miss it," Rudnicky said as he followed his finger to his home on the map. "If we go by the red houses as being added to the zone, then my house just misses it."

FEMA brought many of its regional representatives to Keansburg on Friday to help allay concerns of residents in the Bayshore area about the agency's revised flood zone maps.

A group of concerned residents examine maps.

The houses on the map were shown in three different colors: houses added to the zone in red; already in the zone in yellow; and homes not in the zone in white.

The Seabreeze Way resident pointed out that his home, which was shown in white, is located four houses away from Laurel Bay Health & Rehabilitation Center, with the first three houses a different color than his.

He then proceeded to call his neighbor over who happened to be the third house from the nursing home which was colored in red.

"He was here earlier and left thinking he wasn't in the zone," Rudnicky said. "He's coming back now."

His neighbor returned to the senior center to look at the maps and plead his case to a FEMA representative.

FEMA's Senior Engineer Paul Weberg heard Rudnicky talking to a friend about the situation and assured him that he was not in the zone.

"You are not in the zone," Weberg reassured Rudnicky. "Trust me on that."

While Rudnicky said he was now confident he was not in the zone, he still is worried about the flood insurance situation.

"It says I'm not in the zone but I bet my insurance company catches on that I am so close to it," Rudnicky said. "In the end it all boils down to insurance. That's why most of us are here."

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) spoke at the meeting. Pallone's office sent letters to those in the zone urging them to come to the meeting.

Pallone said that he will introduce a bill in Congress calling for a moratorium on the process of finalizing the maps until FEMA has reported to Congress a comprehensive outreach plan; Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13th District) and Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes were also in attendance.

FEMA Region II Regional Director Stephen Kempf Jr. said that he brought most of his staff to the Bayshore Senior Center on Main Street in Keansburg to help every residentwho came to themeetingwith questions.

"There are no stupid questions," Kempf said. "The only stupid question is the one that is not asked.Ask your questions andwe will give you the best answer possible."

The meeting began with an information session from2-6 p.m. duringwhich residents could come in and locate their homes on the maps and see if they have been added to the flood zone.

FEMAis halfway through a five-year initiative to update all of the nation's flood zone maps, according to a release fromthe agency.

The map modernization project is mandated by Congress and uses aerial photography and advanced topography technologies to produce maps in an aerial digital format thatmakes it easy to see roads and buildings in relation to flood risk zones.

Following the publication of notices by FEMA, starting on June 11 there is a 90-day appeal period in which communities can challenge newflood data due to technical information about flood elevations or local topography.

The new maps would become final six months after the last appeal is resolved.

The maps have been met with an outcry by residents in the Bayshore area who find their properties are now in the flood zone when they had not been.

After the information session, FEMA reps spoke to the residents in attendance about the National Flood Insurance Program.

Michael Dabney, division director of the Federal Insurance And Mitigation Division spoke about the importance of themaps and urged people not to take the flood risk lightly.

"It is important that you identify where you are on themaps,"Dabney said. "Though we are still in the preliminary stages you should know your risk."

He spoke about the 1 percent storm otherwise known as the hundred-year storm that happens once a century.

According Dabney, dune systems are not adequate to protect against flooding.

"Analysis has shown that these berms will not protect from these storms," Dabney said. "Unless significant maintenance is done, these berms will not protect your home."

Kempf said during his presentation that FEMA's revision of the flood zonemaps hasn't beenmetwith a positive reaction, but it is necessary.

"It doesn't normally make anybody happy," Kempf said, "but it does help them understand what we are shooting for with this."

He said that with rising gas prices and higher taxes, people living in flood zones feel as if they are being singled out and that flood insurance seems like just adding costs on.

"I know when things happen to me I think I'm the center of theworld and that things keep coming my way," Kempf said. "What did I do, who did I

anger? Why is all of this happening to me? I'm sure a lot of you are feeling that way."

He said that he has seen areaswhere residents have said that a flood in their area is impossible then be hit by catastrophe.

"There was a city in eastern Iowa, the city that would never flood went 12 feet under," Kempf said. "No one had spoken about floods or storms in that area and then it happened. We are trying to prevent that from happening here."

Also speaking at the meeting was Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Branch ChiefMary Colvin.

Colvin explained to residents that there is a grandfather clause,whichwouldmake it possible for them to have lower insurance rates.

Holders of flood insurance policies who have maintained continuous coverage or who have built their homes in compliance with the maps have the opportunity to buy flood insurance at current, lower rates before a new map takes effect.

Depending on a number of factors, insurance ratesmay change, according to Colvin.

Pallone told residents he is calling for a tax credit to residents whose properties are in the new flood zone and who would be required to have flood insurance and is in favor of providing grants to the affected communities to upgrade dune systems in order to improve the community's insurance ratings.

"The biggest problemI have is thatmost of the people that I havemet today have said 'I've been here 20, 30, 40 years and I've never had a flood,' " Pallone said. "So what has changed? Why is anything different now? That's the biggest problem I have."

He said that he has asked his colleagues in Congress if they have a large group of residents with a similar issue and he has only found one other area that is affected.

"It does seem that we have a lot more in this area than other parts of the county," Pallone said. "Is there something in particular about the Bayshore?"

Kempf said that since the dunes have not been maintained, it puts the homes in the Bayshore at risk.

When the public portion of the meeting began, many residents still were unhappy about their current situation.

"You come herewith your beautifulmaps and preach about the doomsday storm," Keansburg residentNicholas LaBruno said. "You are not here to help us with an evacuation route or here to tell us how we can help ourselves prepare for a storm or here to say you are going to build up the berms and dunes. You are here to sell us insurance."

Kempf said that FEMA will be looking into every problem brought up and that his agency will continue to work with the community to answer any questions that come up.

"We will continue to hold thesemeetings as long as residents feel it is necessary," Kempf said. "We want to alleviate any concerns residents have.