Very Good News

so what are we supposed to do wait tell aug. and see were these maps end up and pay a mortgage and taxes and flood ins. why can't they just do there job and get it done now!!!

The very sitting government is a total partisan group of Ocean County Republicans
who believe in a Gilmore form of government ... they do not represent the entire town
based upon the recent election ...
the clock is running and do is the Federal Funding ... running at a slow pace ...
there must be a complete form of oversight ...
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY EARLIER COMMENT ?????

The town has thousands of summer home owners (as second home owners
they for the most part cannot vote in any election).

Thank God for Mayor Len Connors ... as my home was unscathed by Sandy ...
only a minor nuisance storm water in the garage ... it took about an hour to clean-mop it up ... solidly built the structure is on pilings,
a raised ranch ... my property taxes for a home worth over $600,000 has a
tax levy of just $5,000--- compare that with Stafford with all the lush luxuries,
infrastructure expenses ... tax abatments for a huge development ...
Can anyone explain PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES ???
THAT ONE IS A BEAUT ... THE HUGE ONCE ADULT HOUSING IS NOW
A HUGE DEVELOPMENT CHANGED TO NON AGE RESTRICTED ...
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THE BUS LOADS OF CHILDREN GOING TO AND
FROM THE STAFFORD BUSINESS PARK DEVELOPMENT???
I THOUGHT THE BOE AND JOHN MC MENAMIN SAID THERE WERE GOING
TO BE ONLY A CHILD AND A HALF PER YEAR ????
THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL SAID THERE WERE NO NOTES OR RECORDS
OF SUCH MEETING ON THAT TOPIC ???
OPRA REQUEST STATED THERE WERE NO SUCH RECORDS ...
WHO MADE OUT ON THAT DEAL ??? MAYOR OR DEVELOPER ???
RESIDENTS AND SCHOOL TAXES ???
WHEN ARE WE EVER GOING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY
TAXES??? ARE ALL THE UNION CONTRACTS COMING DUE THIS YEAR???

Like any business FEMA is attempting to cut losses so that the program can continue and dip into other Federal Reserves. However, the changes to the flood map need to be realistic. Since the area was crawling with flood insurance adjusters, I have to wonder if their reports of water height were taken into consideration when determining the new flood maps. What is a homeowner with a gutted home to do? Complete repairs now or wait to see how high they have to raise their homes? And where to get to funds?

Eleanor,

You are being very unfair in your comments, probably because you simply do not understand why Mr. Spodofora made the decision to accept the maps in the first place. According to FEMA no resident may apply for ICC coverage to help pay for raising their home UNLESS the maps are "accepted" by the township. Once the maps are accepted the Township may still object throughout the finalizing process. So the Township decided to accept the maps as is and continue to fight - which is exactly what they are doing. If Mr. Spodofora dug his heals in and refused to accept the flawed maps the only ones he would be hurting are the residents because FEMA would not accept any applications for ICC coverage. There is simply no other rational decision he could have made He made the right decision.

There's nothing worse than paying good money for something u don't have !! Stop the politics, give the people the insurance money that they deserve and move on, enough is enough !!

It seems simple, if your home was severely damaged by Sandy, either raise it, or get an increase in your insurance rates, Weather patterns have changed. If they change again, rates should change again.

It would be one thing if everyone in BHW could get FEMA ICC money, but we can't since the majority of BHW homes are second homes! For us, like all of our neighbors, the house is generational, seasonal, and we don't have a mortgage or flood insurance policy on it. We barely have the money to fix the flood damage. Now FEMA and the town have come in and told us that if we don't spend tens of thousands of dollars raising the house, we could never legally occupy, rent, or sell our house - yet they aren't offering a penny in assistance to raise the house. Its one big F.U. to thousands of BHW residents, and plenty others down the shore. All of this because of an arbitrary number and designation that FEMA threw on the map to justify their existence.

The aftermath of this storm is one big mess . Everyone is pointing the finger at FEMA for inaccurate maps. I am not sure how anyone expects them to have completed detailed maps in the 6 weeks between the storm and the initial map release. These maps are also preliminary advisory maps which FEMA will readily admit are not the final product. The revisions in August may not even be the final product. The real question should be, why did FEMA release any maps if they are not the final product and then tell people they must comply or be at the risk of no ICC money? Why did Christie issue an exec order to comply with an incomplete study? Here is what is not being told: regardless of the new FEMA maps and where V-zones are or are not, the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 will make flood insurance massively expensive for the vast majority of homes in these areas. Even if FEMA decides to scrap the re-mapping altogether. Once again, for most people these maps are not the real problem. Also worth noting that LoBiondo, Runyan, Lautenberg, and Menendez all voted in favor of the Biggert Waters Act

How would you like to pay for Flood Insurance for about 16-years
with a very popular insurance company ... ONLY TO HAVE THEM CANCEL
THE COVERAGE DUE TO THEIR DECISION TO NOT COVER ANY
FLOOD COVERAGE ON A BARRIER ISLAND ... WE DID NOT GET A SINGLE
DIME REFUNDED NOR DID WE EVER PUT IN FOR ANY CLAIMS ...
NICE BUSINESS STATE OF NEW JERSEY BANKING AND INSURANCE
BROKER AND COMPANIES???
WE FIGURE THAT WAS OVER $26,000 ...
WE CURRENTLY HAVE BOTH HOME OWNERS INSURANCE
ON STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS WITH FEMA INSURANCE
AS WELL ... ADD PROPERTY TAXES IT'S NOT FOR THE SENIOR
OR WEAK STOMACH ...

@Eleanor

This statement in your last post is simply inaccurate:
"The Executive Order form the big bully in Trenton was good enough to force compliance, even if it was a flawed and hasty decision. The subsequent approval by a governing body technically did absolutely noting to insure ICC compliance after the Executive Order by the Gov."(sic)

An Executive order by the Governor is not what FEMA regulations require to legally permit it to process ICC applications. What IS required is adoption by the municipality. Without adoption by the municipality ICC claims will not be processed, it's that simple. FEMA does not care what the Governor says or does not say, it only cares about whether a municipality meets the definitions within it's regulations and the township would be foolish to try to battle FEMA. I see you have much anger over the policies of our Governor, I support your right to debate his policies. What I do not support is the bashing of a municipal mayor and council who made the only rational decision they could - your indiscriminate condemnation of people who are powerless in the debate is unfair and a distraction from the real issues.

The advisory flood maps are a complete joke. BHW is now categorized from a zone "A" to a zone "V". What about LBI which has ocean on one side and bay water on the opposite side, why are those homes still a zone "A"? Makes no sense, this whole situation is a complete disgrace, shame on FEMA and shame on Christie for not stepping up to the plate.

I applied for this stupid ICC grant which requires signed contractor agreements in which there are only 4 licensed house elevation contractors in the state of New Jersey.. All this work for a $30k grant when the contractors are pricing these jobs well over $70k. In fact for my small 1,150 sq ft home, the best price I received was $75k. I feel horrible for the folks with larger homes being forced to not comply and potentially bull doze and abandon their homes.

BHW residents are getting raked through the coals on this elevation issue, this completely unjustified and inhumane.

@ Leroy: actually, we are not going to sell the land. The house is not dangerous. In the 40+ years we have been in that house, this is the first time there has ever been water in it. We have been there 40 years and will be there for another 40, with or without FEMA or flood insurance. The house is too big and too spread out to be raised, so FEMA could go to hell. Unless, of course Leroy, you want to cough up the 100k to raise the house since YOU think it's that easy.

It seems like the only thing FEMA will be successful in doing is turning BHW into a ghost town of abandoned and uninsured homes.

From I personal experience in business, New Jersey
Banking and Insurance companies are not what one believes
them to be ... many private companies that have personal
insurance (that is they insure themselves) tip toe through
the process, I had to sue them to recover losses. They
denied my first claim (leaving anyone that experiences
a loss to either sue or give up due to the expense of
a law suit) In this case it was the direct fault of a private
bus company where the driver factually drove -cut into
the entire side of my station wagon ...
We can expect a mass run on properties abandoned
at very low value compensation ... is Christie actually
going to protect the home owner or the lobbyists the
GOP receives $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ donations ???

im still waiting for the cleanup of marsh & bay in mud city whats the hold up??? vincent j savage

Vincent we are working on the rest as you know we did have a huge clean up with some 150 volunteers , Since we have had two nor easters .One troublimg thing is the Home owners whos homes littered the Marsh havent lifted one finger to help , Havent donated to the cause unlike you .and Bill A basically left it all for me to clean up and Chris thats not right . Your house is completly demolished and you cant come help us clean it up . The Three homes that impoled still have there house wears funaces airconditioners in the water There roofs and decks remain . Thank god for the efforts of out of towners volunttering and The help from DPW and The Mayors Office . We have seen more effort from the town than in Years . I cant say enough . As far as this Marsh Chris owns it we have done him a Huge favor cleaning it for him what remans we will adress this April we have organized a clean Up With A local Health group that threw the mayors office and Save the Bay and Sailors for Sandy we will be doing round eight LOLO. I can only try to keep laughing or I will loss my mind .