CAI-NJ Jan.2020 (w) (2)

FLOOD INSURANCE... from page 36.

Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), there is an appeal process. This can be done online or in writing. I suggest it be done in conjunction or by your municipality or a surveyor or engineer because there needs to be proof of the error, not just opinion. For nearly 50 years we have been suffering from the unintended con- sequences of the National Flood Insurance Program. More and larger houses and structures have been built where they probably would not have been if not for the availability of flood insurance. But the NFIP is trying to make the program better to lessen the potential negative consequences. There will be continued pain while this is being attempted. Whether you are a climate warming aficionado or a climate change denier, there is one thing I can assure you of.

The bottom opening of our infrastruc- ture funnel (storm drains, storm sewers, creeks, streams, etc.), has remained the same size, BUT the top wide opening of the funnel gets larger and larger due to development. When the small opening cannot take the flow, water overflows the top of the funnel – aka flooding. This can’t be reversed. Just because you are not in a spe- cial flood hazard area and/or your lender is not requiring you to procure flood insurance, it is wise for you to look into the cost. NFIP rates for pol- icies outside a SFHA are quite low. Private insurance may even be less. Just because you are not beachfront or on the bank of a river, does not mean you cannot suffer flood damage. A six-inch downpour will overflow the funnel and can happen anywhere. n

be helpful. This allows water to flow through a structure rather than subject- ing it to water pressure. Know too that mistakes can made in both the BFE mapping and individual elevation certificates. You may want to have old certificates reviewed. It is important that community direc- tors, managers and residents stay aware of their municipality’s compli- ance with FEMA/NFIP requirements. Failure to do so jeopardizes the avail- ability of obtaining flood insurance. If you believe that remapping or the original maps have incorrectly shown your building to be in a Special Remapping and Community Participation

ATTENTION ALL CAI-NJ SEMINAR ATTENDEES:

Please remember to keep your seminar completion certificates in a safe place. These certificates are distributed at the end of each CAI-NJ seminar. This is proof that you attended and completed the seminar. You may need to reference the certificate in the future and CAI-NJ does not keep track of each member’s attendance record. Community managers will definitely need the certificates to obtain credit for continuing education towards their designations.

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