Meeting gives nothing new on FEMA issue

To the Editor:

On May 19, I and some other residents of Valley Stream attended a meeting at the Valley Stream Village Hall called and conducted by Assemblyman Brian Curran. The meeting was billed to be an update on problems raised two years ago by the implementation of new flood maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that have adversely impacted arts of Valley Stream, notably Gibson, including significant parts of School District 14. Representatives of Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy were present; but Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was neither present nor with an announced representative in attendance. No Nassau County legislators attended. Valley Stream village officials were present, along with Mr. Curran and Councilman Jim Darcy.

With respect to the nature of the problem caused by new designations for areas affected by the FEMA maps, there was no new information. It is already common knowledge that the maps were predicated on an inappropriate study of Long Island’s east end and applied by FEMA to Valley Stream. It is also known that FEMA’s reliance on a historical argument and rationale for new food zone designations has no basis in fact in an area that has no recorded instances of coastal floods. Further, the change of the minimal level of 8 feet to 11.4 feet for high-risk flood zone exemption has never been explained, and this meeting did not illuminate residents on that point. 

It is the last point that makes it almost impossible for affected residents to successfully appeal FEMA’s flood designations and almost assures that affected residents with outstanding mortgages or home equity loans will incur mandatory flood insurance premiums with virtually no reasonably foreseeable opportunity to obtain any benefit from that insurance. Insurance companies and FEMA, which benefit from the premiums, have a new cash cow. Its name is Valley Stream.

The officials focused on how they were trying to obtain insurance reductions for adversely affected homeowners and commercially affect property owners. This approach is totally out of touch with those impacted by the FEMA problem. We do not want insurance reductions. We want the rescission of the flawed 2009 flood maps adopted by FEMA and acquiesced to by the village. Those maps have decimated the property values of those adversely affected by the maps and have devastated the marketability of property in said flood zones. In one swoop the federal government has destroyed the savings and wealth of thousands of families.

The local officials speaking at the meeting did have one common theme in their remarks, and that was that the problem is federal and that restricts their ability to assist FEMA victims. I seriously take issue with that approach. The people in the high-risk flood zone with mandated requirements for flood insurance have been given what is basically a new type of tax, which either by design or happenstance raises money to pay FEMA’s growing debt and enriches insurance companies and brokers. All residents in the high-risk flood zone still have exorbitant real estate taxes based on assessed valuations done by local government, that does not take the new flood zone designations and the devastating effect on land values and marketability into account. The problem may be federally caused but it certainly can be treated locally. 

Local officials have it within their power to enact forms of tax relief to individuals that have been victimized by FEMA. In addition, the mayor certainly should be contacting mayors nationwide similarly situated and enlisting support for coordinated action. At the very least, the mayor should be joining the National Conference of Mayors for the purpose of gaining support for the victims of FEMA and to arrange for the National Conference to take the FEMA problem right to the source for resolution, the President of the United States. I did not hear Mr. Curran announce any legislative initiatives introduced by him in the Assembly for tax relief to FEMA victims. Similarly, Mr. Darcy put forth no concrete proposals to lessen the financial burden of those with the FEMA problem.

In their most recent mailings to constituents, Councilman Darcy, Assemblyman Curran and County Executive Edward Mangano recounted their accomplishments and discussed their objectives. The problems facing thousands of their constituents with respect to FEMA flood insurance are nowhere to be found.

Time is running out. In 18 months the temporary reduction of flood insurance rates in the high-risk area will expire. Everyone in Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead should remember this as they cast their ballots this year and next.
 
Joseph B. Margolin

Valley Stream