Over 200 Attend FEMA Session; Learn of Linking Aid Applications

OCEAN CITY ─ Will there be enough of the pie to go around?
Over 200 pairs of eyes and minds from various Cape May County municipalities locked on the PowerPoint presentation in the Ocean City Tabernacle as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program held its first meeting Sept. 9.
Those 200 walked away armed with information and, for some, more questions than answers. Making “informed decisions” in the face of uncertainty was mingled with determination. Far to the south, Hurricane Irma loomed off Florida’s coast.
“This is not recovery money,” said Paul Miller, project manager, Tetra Tech. “This money has been approved by Congress.”
Miller, a retired State Police officer, acts as the liaison between agencies as Ocean City gathers information from homeowners. According to Miller, Ocean City is the “sub-applicant” in the grant destined for submission: first to the state and then on to FEMA.
The grant provides reimbursement for “repetitive loss” properties.
As explained in the FEMA fact sheet: “Repetitive loss means that a building covered by flood insurance incurred flood-related damage two times over a period of 10 years, and that the cost of the repairs was, on the average, at least 25 percent of the market value of the building before the damage occurred each time.”
According to Miller, more applicants from Cape May County will “develop a robust application.”
A $1,200 application fee per applicant is payable to Ocean City for work in organizing and submitting the grant. The deadline for submitting information to a municipal contact (Ron Simone of North Wildwood, Chris Ridings of West Wildwood) is Sept. 14.
How can homeowners know if they qualify as eligible applicants? Miller presented a few “eligible design standards.”
Many homeowners were contacted by letter by their municipality and knew their classification.
“If you do not know the classification of your property, ask your municipal liaison,” said Miller. Every homeowner’s classification is “privileged information” and is available only to the owner.
Classifications and more information are available on Cape May County’s website, including Miller’s PowerPoint presentation.
Miller’s presentation stressed maintaining the “chain of command” and explained the process. Homeowners must send notice of interest, affidavit, FEMA declaration and release form, proof of insurance, and $1,200 fee to their municipal contact.
One homeowner from North Wildwood asked what happens should a piece of information be missing or incorrect.
“Tetra Tech will get back with you if something’s wrong,” said Miller. All applications will be submitted as one through Ocean City, according to Miller.
If accepted and approved by FEMA, all applicants are approved. State submission to FEMA is Nov. 14.
“I don’t know how long this might take,” Miller said in regards to the acceptance timeline. Applications submitted in 2016 are still pending.
Reimbursement varies according to a property’s classification.
Severe Repetitive Loss properties are funded at 100 percent, Repetitive Loss properties at 90, and insured properties at 75 percent.
Elevating one’s home is at the homeowner’s expense, but will receive reimbursement if approved.
When asked what Cape May County’s chances are at acceptance, Miller replied, “The bigger the application, the greater the chance.”
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.