Congresswoman Velázquez And FEMA Hosting Important Draft Flood Maps Forum Tonight

Thursday, April 4, 6:30 pm

FEMA Draft Flood Maps Forum

This is important information for Red Hook and Gowanus residents in particular and pertains to the just-released post-Sandy Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) flood maps.
Tonight, Congresswoman Velázquez hosting of meeting with FEMA and NYC on FEMA’s release odraft flood maps at Red Hook Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street
According to a press release from Velázquez's office:

FEMA will explain its released Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) to provide a better picture of current flood risk than the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and the New York City’s Housing Recovery Office, Department of Buildings, the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency and NYC Housing Authority will be there as well for breakouts and discussion. The meeting is of course free and open to the public.

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Important Info Every Red Hook And Gowanus Building Owner Needs To Hear: What FEMA's New Flood Maps Mean For Building Owners In Zone A

Canal at Carroll Street during Sandy (photo credit: Margaret Maugenest)

FEMA Advisory Base Flood Elevations for Gowanus And Red Hook

After Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated its 1983 Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) of the New York area to reflect the full extend of the water's reach during the October 2012 storm. These new updated maps are called "Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE)" and show the significant expansion of the flood plains. Many areas that were previously not in Advisory Zone A have now been included.

Just recently, FEMA has completed and added the ABFE section specifically pertaining to Gowanus and Red Hook. (You can access the section here)

New York's ABFEs are advisory now, but eventually, the information will be used to update the official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. When the agency does include it in the next 1-2 years, insurance premiums in flood prone areas will go up significantly.

According to FEMA, if your property is in the redefined Zone A, it should be raised by 3 feet above the Base Flood elevation. Otherwise, your insurance premiums will go up. "Elevating" can be accomplished by rebuilding on stilts or, by sacrificing the cellar/basement of an existing home.
To make up for the space, New York City will relax zoning requirements and allow property owners to build additional space on their building.

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery would like to make her Red Hook, Gowanus, and Sunset Park constituents aware of all this new information and of all the new regulations. Her office just published a guide, part of which you can see below. You can also access it on her website here.
"As you can see, there is much to be considered in response to the ABFE maps" State Senator Montgomery writes.  " If my office can be of service please reach out to us!"

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Earth Day or His Community's Health ($$$) Means Nothing to Councilman Bill DeBlasio (Found In Brooklyn)

Councilmember Bill DeBlasio

Raw Sewage Floating On The Gowanus Canal




Official Fema Map Showing Gowanus Area Is Flood Zone




Gowanus Area Flooded after heavy rain

What Public Advocate Would Advocate For Development
On Highly Toxic Canal In Fema Flood Zone?

Councilmember DeBlasio never ceases to amaze me. He consistently seems to be on the opposite side of the table from his constituents here in Carroll Gardens.

Today, in an article in the Daily News, he made it clear that he opposes the Superfund designation for the Gowanus Canal. Here are just a few quotes from the article.

"We, locally, have gotten our act together. The city's doing the right stuff. ... The Toll site will get cleaned up," de Blasio said, charging the feds would just "get in the way."

De Blasio conceded the city's plan is a "short-term" solution, but said funding for a comprehensive cleanup could be cobbled together from other sources and that the waterway is safe to live near.

"You don't want to drink out of it, you don't want to eat fish out of it, but it is not a danger to live near it," he said. (Daily News)

De Blasio has been an incredible disappointment for the last 7 1/2 years as our councilman. Personnaly, I can't wait till his term is over.
He has largely been absent during his two terms and totally absent for the last few months, while running his campaign.
But that is only my opinion. Whats yours?

How would you rate Bill DeBlasio's performance as our local councilman?

Related Reading:

Earth Day or His Community's Health ($$$) Means Nothing to Councilman Bill DeBlasio (Found In Brooklyn)

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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