Mayor Acropolis and Councilman Sangiovanni Want FEMA To Fully Fund Home Elevations
The Township Council will vote on a resolution that will ask Federal Government to fully fund the cost for families to raise their homes to comply with the Advisory Base Flood Elevations in Brick Township at their March 5 meeting. The resolution was prepared and placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Stephen Acropolis and Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni.
“The Advisory Base Flood Elevations released by FEMA late last year have created a crisis in our community. Families who lost their homes in Hurricane Sandy now have the choice to pay tens of thousands of dollars to meet the new requirements, potentially pay tens of thousands of dollars in flood insurance or to leave their homes and hometown,” said Mayor Acropolis. “This choice should not be forced upon our citizens. Councilman Sangiovanni and I urge the Council to support a resolution urging the Federal Government to help these people by fully funding the elevation of homes.”
“It is our duty to fight for the families of Brick Township, many of whom will likely not be able to afford to elevate their homes,” said Councilman Sangiovanni. “They should not have to leave their homes and Brick Township because of the financial burden the new flood zone regulations have forced on them. It is another unfunded mandate that is unfair to citizens.”
Families who had flood insurance will be eligible for Increased Cost of Compliance Grants of up to $30,000. That is not enough to raise many homes said Mayor Acropolis.
“There is so much that goes into elevating homes. Foundation work, utility work and more. That $30,000 will not go far for most families,” said Mayor Acropolis.
Families that do not raise their homes to comply with the new base flood elevations could have flood insurance premiums of upwards of $20,000 a year after the new maps are adopted in about two years depending on how far below the elevation a home is.
“It is my hope that the Council supports this resolution and shows the people of our community that we will continue to do everything we can to help them,” said Mayor Acropolis.
“I fully expect my colleagues to support the resolution that Mayor Acropolis and I have prepared. It is the right thing for our citizens,” said Councilman Sangiovanni.
The resolution is on the agenda for the March 5, 2013 meeting. It will be held at 7pm in the Municipal Building, 401 Chambers Bridge Road.