Wednesday, May 1, 2013
FEMA representatives meet with local officials for update on maps and increase to flood insurance premiums.
At the request of Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, representatives from 23 municipalities impacted by flooding, including New Milford, met with FEMA representatives Tuesday for a status update on the Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) FEMA flood maps. According to FEMA representative Mark Roberts, the new ABFE maps were not a result of Super Storm Sandy--the process of updating the maps began in 2008. However, Super Storm Sandy expedited their release, resulting in three sets of advisory maps. Roberts said that each map will bring the details into sharper focus so that the final map will be a useful tool. According to Roberts, once the preliminary regulatory map is released, municipalities will then begin commenting and …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Wagner and Eustace bill to protect public from flooding and facilitate smart development approved by Assembly panel, advances to the full Assembly for approval.
In the wake of Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Connie Wagner and Tim Eustace to help protect the public from flooding and facilitate smart development was approved by an Assembly panel on Thursday. The legislation (A-3262) would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to quickly evaluate any newly released FEMA floodway delineations in order to allow permit applicants to apply for a permit using the federal floodway delineation when it is at least as protective as the DEP's delineation. "Over the years, many flood maps have become outdated due to urban growth, changes in river flows and coastlines, and even flood mitigation efforts," said Wagner. "A home or business that …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Extension prompted by a request from New Jersey officials.
The deadline to register for disaster assistance in the wake of Hurricane Sandy has been extended to March 1, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Friday. The registration, which was supposed to end Wednesday, Jan. 30, was extended to give storm survivors another month to register with the agency for federal aid, according to an NJ.com report last week. The extension was prompted by a request from New Jersey officials, according to FEMA. More than 57,500 New Jersey residents so far have been approved for help through FEMA’s individual assistance program, the report said.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Gov. Christie's office announced an extension for New Jersey residents affected by Hurricane Sandy to register for disaster assistance.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The deadline for New Jersey residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy to apply for disaster assistance has been extended, Gov. Chris Christie's office announced Tuesday. Residents now have until Jan. 30, 2013, to register for disaster aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The deadline to apply for aid was originally set to expire on Dec. 27, 60 days after FEMA launched its recovery effort, though considering the totality of the damage and the number of households affected by Sandy, the State appealed for more time to accommodate all of its residents. "The single most important step people can take in this recovery period is to register with FEMA, if they haven’t already," Christie said in a release. “The process of a …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Bergen Lawmakers Have Been Pushing Legislation to Require More Updated Maps
In advance of the imminent release of new Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps by FEMA, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Assemblyman Tim Eustace called on the state to update all Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) flood hazard area maps to better protect homes and businesses from future storms. In mid-October, the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee released a bill (A3262) sponsored by Wagner and Eustace with bi-partisan support. The measure is designed to help protect the public from flooding and facilitate smart development by requiring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to quickly evaluate any newly released FEMA floodway delineations in order to allow permit applicants to apply for a permit using the …
Friday, December 14, 2012
FEMA will release preliminary flood elevation maps for use in reconstruction after Sandy.
The Associated Press is reporting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will release advisory base flood elevation maps on Saturday allowing property owners and builders in ten New Jersey counties to learn more about flood hazards in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. The maps provide depictions of flood hazards in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties. The information recommends building elevations for use in reconstruction after Sandy. FEMA says the elevations will guide home and business owners through the recovery process and ensure stronger and safer rebuilding. Follow New Milford Patch on Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, November 9, 2012
FEMA approves Christie’s request to extend Disaster Unemployment Assistance to cover all New Jersey counties as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available for anyone living or working in the affected counties at the time of Hurricane Sandy, and who are unemployed as a direct result of the damages caused by the storm. In so many Bergen County towns, Sandy effectively closed businesses for days on end, displacing workers who only get paid if they work. It has yet to be calculated the amount of money lost among businesses who could not open their doors; especially small, independently-owned businesses. No business=no paying customers=no money to meet payroll. In New Milford, almost every business along River Road and Main Street was closed due to the power outages that lasted for more than a week. All of these businesses had no …
Federal representatives on hand to help with disaster assistance at new Bergen County center, the county executive announced Thursday.
Officials have opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the county administration building in Hackensack, allowing storm-battered locals to get assistance in applying for Sandy recovery programs. The center will be staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration, according to Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan's Office. Information on state and federal programs, disaster assistance and low-interest mitigation loans for private non-profits and businesses will be available. Residents should bring photo identification, insurance information, an itemized list of damages and their FEMA registration number if they have already registered with the agency, Donovan's office said…
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Homeowners with damaged property from Hurricane Sandy have 60 days to register for assistance.
As the full extent of Hurricane Sandy's impact is still being uncovered, residents who lost homes or have suffered damage to them may apply to FEMA for help right now. Registering your claim can be done online or by phone, and the process takes about 25-30 minutes, officials say. The website is www.disasterassistance.gov. You can apply via your smartphone as well at m.fema.gov. To apply by phone, call 1-800-621-3362. People with speech or hearing disabilities should call 1-800-462-7585. According to Scott Sanders, a FEMA spokesman, you have 60 days from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for help. For New Jersey residents, this means you have until Saturday, Dec. 29 -- 60 days from the date the disaster declaration was made, on …
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Impact of Hurricane Sandy expected spread over two days, bringing coastal surging, inland flooding and spot rainfalls of up to 12.
Hurricane Sandy's impact on weather along the coast and inland is expected to continue over two days, potentially bringing coastal surges of 6 to 11 feet, and rainfall of up to 12 inches at spots that could cause river and other inland flooding, federal officials said in a press conference on Sunday morning. No matter exactly where or when the hurricane makes landfall, Sandy is a large system that will create potentially life-threatening surges along hundreds of miles of coastline from North Carolina up to Cape Cod, according to spokespersons for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The hurricane's effect, already being felt in the southern part of the mid-Atlantic, will last up to a day before and after the hurricane's actual arrival…
Celeste Scavetta
2:07 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Thank you for the additional information Ann. This truly adds insult to injury. I know there was a Town Hall in Ocean County yesterday, and even the elevation of your home could hinder coverage going forward. The big G said he was in the process of working on that very same crisis. These truly can be substantial costs to families already suffering fiscally and personally already. Just sitting … more ›