Think about flood maps when voting

To the Editor:

The recent announcement that federal legislation has been enacted that will continue the $400 preferred-rate premium for mandatory flood insurance in Gibson while FEMA formulates new flood zone maps shouldn’t lull Gibson residents into a false sense of complacency. This legislation is an attempt to prevent economic chaos and catastrophe that would have resulted from annual premiums rising in excess of $2,000 after Dec. 31. Nothing has really changed.

1) FEMA has not restored the eight-foot exemption level which would, in effect, immediately resolve the problem and remove Gibson, as it formerly was, from the “AE” high-risk flood zone.

2) FEMA has not developed maps consistent with Gibson’s geography, topography and history. In fact, the process and approach being taken by FEMA in developing new maps remains a mystery.

3) FEMA has made no provision for compensating those damaged by the inaccurate and erroneous maps implemented three years ago.

Before Gibson residents believe that our officials are coming to the rescue, we should remember that three years ago they could have voiced their objection to FEMA and chose not to do so.  Instead they stood by while the maps were implemented. These were maps that raised the exemption level more than three feet to 11 feet 4 inches. In short, they raised the exemption level of an area that never flooded at 8 feet to over 11 feet where there is almost no chance of flooding. The effect of this is for FEMA to collect exorbitant premiums with next to no chance that there will be a payout for damages. Gibson was converted into a cash cow with FEMA gaining a source of revenue for its $19 billion debt.

As the election approaches, I would strongly urge my fellow Gibson residents to consider the following when voting for U.S. representative from our district and for president:

1) Rep. Carolyn McCarthy had three years to correct the flood insurance problem. For two years her party controlled Congress and the executive branch. With a stroke of his pen, the president could have issued an executive order restoring the 8-foot level, and McCarthy could have made more than 600 daily speeches urging that.

2) Legislator Fran Becker had the same amount of time to fight and achieve the enactment of local county legislation giving tax relief to the “victims” of the AE designation. In Gibson he did not. How do you assess the value of a house that cannot be sold anywhere near market value, compared to a house not in the AE flood zone?

3) Although Frank Scaturro came to a meeting of the Valley Stream Community Association, where he heard an expert totally discredit FEMA’s flood maps, I have not read any statement by him indicating that Gibson’s plight will be a priority for him if he is elected.

I suggest that Gibson residents consider the following:

1) Instead of voting for any of the listed candidates for U.S. representative, write in a name. It can be your name or the name of any eligible resident of our district. If we withhold our votes for that office in this election, two years from now we will be considered a united voting bloc and candidates will seek the Gibson vote.

2) Do not vote for President Obama. He could have immediately taken corrective action like that taken by President Bush during Hurricane Katrina with respect to FEMA.

Remember, if you vote for a candidate, you send a message of approval to that candidate. Do you really want to send such a message to the political officials mentioned above?

Please also do not vote for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. I have found her to be the least responsive to our requests for assistance.

The flood insurance problem has not been solved. Do not waste the opportunity to use this chance to send a message to the government officials who have had three years to right a terrible wrong.

Joseph Margolin

Valley Stream