FEMA came to Worcester County last Thursday and received quite a reception.
Almost 250 citizens showed up, many of them property owners, to review preliminary flood insurance maps. The session was held at Stephen Decatur Middle School. It was such a robust meeting, that it seemed to take the FEMA officials by surprise.
FEMA officials came ready to discuss just how proposed flood insurance map changes would impact specific property lots. Predictably, the most consistent question from the homeowners was “how will the changes affect my insurance rates or coverage?”
Doug Huber told Bayside Gazette that he has lived in Snug Harbor since 1963 and has been “flooded out” many times. He attributed the floods to marshlands being filled in to construct new developments, thus forcing storm water into the outer boundary areas, including unfortunately the area where he lives.
He has seen some houses float out to sea.
Other homeowners came to the meeting seeking information on flood insurance rate increases. They find themselves in the position of not being able to afford rate increases, but still having to find a way to pay or face the risk of flood damage.
Still others came because they heard that non-residents in places such as Ocean Pines have heard that their flood insurance premiums might increase for four consecutive years, and then the policies would be eliminated.
FEMA was there to address concerns, but it also explained proposed changes to flood insurance rate maps that could move thousands of property parcels from flood zone classifications. It is important, the property owners learned, to stay on top of FEMA’s intent, because the agency isn’t planning direct notification of property owners affected by the changes.
This leaves it basically up to you, the homeowner whether you own property in Berlin, Ocean Pines or elsewhere to stay on top of. Here is a FEMA website we believe will answer more of your questions. Go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.
Almost 250 citizens showed up, many of them property owners, to review preliminary flood insurance maps. The session was held at Stephen Decatur Middle School. It was such a robust meeting, that it seemed to take the FEMA officials by surprise.
FEMA officials came ready to discuss just how proposed flood insurance map changes would impact specific property lots. Predictably, the most consistent question from the homeowners was “how will the changes affect my insurance rates or coverage?”
Doug Huber told Bayside Gazette that he has lived in Snug Harbor since 1963 and has been “flooded out” many times. He attributed the floods to marshlands being filled in to construct new developments, thus forcing storm water into the outer boundary areas, including unfortunately the area where he lives.
He has seen some houses float out to sea.
Other homeowners came to the meeting seeking information on flood insurance rate increases. They find themselves in the position of not being able to afford rate increases, but still having to find a way to pay or face the risk of flood damage.
Still others came because they heard that non-residents in places such as Ocean Pines have heard that their flood insurance premiums might increase for four consecutive years, and then the policies would be eliminated.
FEMA was there to address concerns, but it also explained proposed changes to flood insurance rate maps that could move thousands of property parcels from flood zone classifications. It is important, the property owners learned, to stay on top of FEMA’s intent, because the agency isn’t planning direct notification of property owners affected by the changes.
This leaves it basically up to you, the homeowner whether you own property in Berlin, Ocean Pines or elsewhere to stay on top of. Here is a FEMA website we believe will answer more of your questions. Go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.