Schumer challenges new FEMA flood maps

By FRITZ MAYER

WASHINGTON, DC — After receiving numerous complaints from residents and officials in New York State regarding new flood maps, Senator Charles Schumer took steps to have the maps investigated.

In a news release from Schumer’s office on June 29, he said the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will examine the techniques and methodologies used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in creating the new maps.

“New York homeowners and businesses have been saddled with mandatory, onerous flood-insurance fees as a result of these often severely flawed flood maps,” Schumer said. “I asked for this congressional investigation to ensure that this problem is addressed and maps are accurately drawn. With GAO’s commitment to examine FEMA’s methodologies and policies, we are one step closer to creating safer, more accurate flood zones and putting an end to these faulty maps that force residents and businesses across New York State and the country to pay costly, unnecessary insurance fees.”

FEMA is currently updating all of New York State’s flood maps and, in Sullivan County, the maps are set to be adopted in the next 15 months or so. A public meeting is scheduled for a review of the maps on July 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the government center in Monticello.

In other counties, the maps have already been adopted or have been through public reviews. According to Schumer, in many of those places the new maps have caused problems for residents.

In February, in the Town of Wheatfield in Niagara County, for instance, about 900 properties were added to the flood zones. But after ground level surveys revealed substantial elevation errors, nearly 60 percent of the additions were removed. If those properties had remained on the maps, it would have meant substantial flood insurance payments for many property owners.

In another example, in December, home-

owners in Monroe County unexpectedly received mandatory flood insurance notices after new flood maps were implemented without appropriate notice to property owners. Flood insurance costs ranged between $400 and $1,000 in annual fees. According to Schumer, a review conducted by the Town of Gates revealed that inexact FEMA projections included several Gates properties in flood zones that were outside of the flood-threat range. The resolution to that incident has not yet been worked out.

Clark Stevens, a spokesman for FEMA, said, “As with all GAO reviews that have offered insight into improving FEMA’s programs, the agency will consider and evaluate any new findings that can assist in improving our processes and procedures.”

The new flood maps for Sullivan County can be viewed at rmc.mapmodteam.com/RMC2/Counties_Sullivan.htm, although a few of the maps, such as the one for Panther Rock Creek, which flooded heavily in Youngsville in 2006, are not yet available.