PHOTOS: Jersey Shore Largely Spared from Nor'easter Flooding

Suzanne Schmitz February 10, 2013 at 04:36 am

Please clarify: if a home is not 50% damaged and there is no mortgage can one repair the home to pre-Sandy status and not elevate? If no mortgage they can forego flood insurance and take their chances on future flooding. Is this correct?

Kim E February 10, 2013 at 04:43 am

yes

Suzanne Schmitz February 10, 2013 at 05:09 am

Thanks Kim- so will permits be given by the township for electrical, gas, other building reconstruction if not complying with flood zone elevation ruling?

Fred RBPatch February 10, 2013 at 07:09 am

@jim- NOTHING like that, and your suggestion is "criminal".

Dentss Dunnagun February 10, 2013 at 09:28 am

This is the key to not allowing anybody to dictate to you what you must do .Pay off your home ,you still have two years before these maps go into affect ,the banks will bleed you to death ....

Tpny February 10, 2013 at 09:34 am

Can we please call a "spade a spade"!! Martin is pissed and is blaming everyone INCLUDING the rich!! Chances are he has little or no insurance on his place! Take responsibility for your own acttions and move forward constructively. I lost everything, but sacrificed over the years to pay for the maximum flood insurance coverage.....JUST IN CASE something like Sandy ever hit.I hated to pay it, but it was a necessary cost to be on the water and to protect MY asset. What does that have to do with rich people and politicians?

Project Bluebeam February 10, 2013 at 10:43 am

Agenda 21 land grab. Google it!

jerseyswamps February 10, 2013 at 12:06 pm

Sue,
I think a lot depends on your town's attitude towards rebuilding. I wouldn't trust them. Try to get done as much as you can without permits. You can probably do a lot of repairs inside away from prying eyes. Even outside. You do not need a permit for minor "routine maintenance or upgrade" for your home. Play dumb. Get it done and let someone come after you. They're probably too busy to go after those with less damage.

proud February 10, 2013 at 12:42 pm

The Biggert-Waters Act affects millions NOT "on the water". It is much more complicated than your personal illustration.

Forked River Piney February 10, 2013 at 01:05 pm

Call Mitt He wanted to stop Fema

Rich Wieland February 10, 2013 at 01:08 pm

Yes, that's what many of us in that situation are forced to do. Contact our US Senators and Representatives to tell them to amend the Biggert-Waters law. FEMA is mandating "overkill" building elevations ($50,000-$150,000 each!) or exorbitant insurance premiums ($30,000 a year!). They will make many owners abandon their homes and businesses. No one would buy a place with those unaffordable expenses. FEMA has made our property values drop dramatically. With FEMA's (flawed) new maps, 25% of Americans are subject to those rules! Join us to save our communities: Facebook.com/StopFemaNow

George February 10, 2013 at 01:16 pm

Protect your property value and save our Shore communities. Fight the expensive mandates and prevent mass abandonment of neighborhoods. Come to the next meeting of "Stop FEMA Now" on Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 3-4 pm, at Belly Busters Restaurant, 708 Fischer Blvd., Toms River. More info at Facebook.com/StopFemaNow

Av February 10, 2013 at 01:50 pm

I was driving around drinking on the storm with my milk jug
It wasn't bad

Av February 10, 2013 at 01:53 pm

We should have a occupy riggers!!

Forked River Piney February 10, 2013 at 03:09 pm

Was Mitt the magic underwear guy there?

Greg February 10, 2013 at 03:56 pm

Well, i put the inside of my home back, The floors, walls, elec, furnace and such over the last month. I do have a mortgage and waited to get the funds back after a 40 wait to start paying the contractor. All of the work was done inside so far. We will not and cannot afford to raise this house. We will take our chances in a few years and see what happens. As far as permits go, well this neighborhood is trashed. At least we are making an effort, unlike many homes here just sitting here a horrible mess. I know over six families that are just putting their sheet rock , floors ectera back after work and on weekends if you get my drift.

PJ Ortley February 10, 2013 at 05:50 pm

@proud. I do not know of a single residence in Ortley Beach that will meet the new FEMA map requirements. Even the new homes built in the last 3-4 years are 3 ft. too low and not built to V standards where required. The entire town will plummet in value.

proud February 10, 2013 at 07:23 pm

@PJ, ever get the feeling you're not wanted?
http://­Facebook.­com/­StopFe­maNow

proud February 10, 2013 at 07:25 pm

@Suzanne Schmitz, if your residence was not substantially damaged ( more than 50% pre Sandy fair market value), you should be able to secure the permits that you mentioned. However, if the residence is below the advised base flood elevation(ABFE), and that elevation becomes an effective BFE when the new FIRM maps adopted, the value of the property will become severely compromised and the building may very well become worthless , or even a liability. This would also apply to properties not storm damaged but deemed to be within the boundaries of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Due to ridiculous legislation ( the Biggert-Waters Act 2012), many formerly compliant residences will have the rug pulled out from under the American Dream. Unfortunately, many are unaware of the changes that will undermine the already beleaguered economy in our region. You can learn more by visiting :
http://­Facebook.­com/­StopFe­maNow Perhaps, a concerted effort by citizens can stop the madness the Government has brought upon us. Please educate yourself and urge everyone you know to do so. The implications are wide spread and threaten the financial stabity of millions of New Jerseyans and Americans alike.

JHill February 10, 2013 at 08:45 pm

Yes, that is correct but then these people look to FEMA (aka the taxpayers) to rebuild their homes for free because they decided not to get flood insurance.

JHill February 10, 2013 at 08:48 pm

Unfortunately, FEMA isn't handing out $200,000 checks to people who decided not to buy flood insurance.
I am not sure why people do not understand that and expect the taxpayers to bail them out.

Karen M February 10, 2013 at 10:35 pm

Yes, but the problem will be if you try and sell it in the furture. I just found out that Stafford Twp is going to pass a resolution that will not give CO's to anyone who purchases a home that's not up to the new elevation standards. So, I can sell my home if I want, but the people who buy it won't be able to get a CO unless its elevated. They are trying to screw us over. So I guess the whole idea of not having to raise and just forgoing insurance if my house is paid off is ok as long as I never have to sell my home.

proud February 10, 2013 at 11:44 pm

@JHill, you are right. FEMA is not handing out checks. They are charging EVERYBODY, including you, a tax to live on the shore. Your property taxes will double in a few short years if you don't: Stop FEMA Now:
www.Facebook.com/StopFemaNow Please educate yourself and urge everyone you know to do so. The implications are wide spread and threaten the financial stability of millions of New Jerseyans.

KRaz February 11, 2013 at 12:15 pm

Stafford is out to rip off all of their residents .... can't even get a straight answer from anyone in the township!

Karl February 11, 2013 at 02:57 pm

It is the new norm for towns to rip you off and don't dare ask questions or expect honest answers.

Michelle Blamble February 11, 2013 at 10:47 pm

I also don't think there is one residence in Ortley Beach that has room to move the house to drive pilings. Folks on the mainland so quick to throw the island under the bus should reflect on what our reduced property values will do to THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

proud February 12, 2013 at 01:46 am

@ Michelle Blamble, I live on the mainland and have the the same problems as you.So many people west of the barrier islands are faced with advised zone and elevation changes . We empathize with you. Now, I do understand that many that are not located within the Special Hazard Flood Areas (SFHA), or "the flood plain", don't believe that this is an issue that affects the;: will affect them: or, should affect them. Well, the fact of the matter is that it DOES affect them. They should be fighting made about the ill conceived Biggert-Waters Act-2012. Learn More by visiting:
http://­Facebook.­com/­StopFe­maNow

Marjorie Smith February 12, 2013 at 01:53 am

Beautiful pictures made so much better with no serious impact on recovering shore towns.

proud February 12, 2013 at 01:57 am

@Suzanne Schmitz, if your residence was not substantially damaged ( more than 50% pre Sandy fair market value), you should be able to secure the permits that you mentioned. However, if the residence is below the advised base flood elevation(ABFE), and that elevation becomes an effective BFE when the new FIRM maps adopted, the value of the property will become severely compromised and the building may very well become worthless , or even a liability. This would also apply to properties not storm damaged but deemed to be within the boundaries of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Due to ridiculous legislation ( the Biggert-Waters Act 2012), many formerly compliant residences will have the rug pulled out from under the American Dream. Unfortunately, many are unaware of the changes that will undermine the already beleaguered economy in our region. You can learn more by viisiting:
www.Facebook.­com/­StopFe­maNow Perhaps, a concerted effort by citizens can stop the madness the Government has brought upon us. Please educate yourself and urge everyone you know to do so. The implications are wide spread and threaten the financial stabity of millions of New Jerseyans and Americans alike.

Vincent Pischettola February 12, 2013 at 04:11 am

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reevaluate-new-fema-advisory-base-flood-elevation-maps-help-us-rebuild-not-shore-not-push-us-out/tZYxj3V5
Stop FEMA now please sign and pass along