Township Lauds Congressman’s Efforts to Reform Flood Insurance

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue is praising the efforts of United States Representative Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) with revisions to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Law that will enable tens of thousands of property owners in New Jersey to retain their properties with affordable flood insurance rates.
“Congressman LoBiondo’s leadership on this critical issue has given coastal property owners throughout the Township and the rest of the State peace of mind regarding future flood insurance premiums”, Mayor Donohue said. “Congressman LoBiondo continues to be a partner in Middle Township’s efforts to provide real solutions on complex issues involving both bay front and ocean front properties throughout the Garden State”.
Last week, the United States Congress voted 306-91 on legislation that would lower premium increases mandated under the Biggert-Waters law. The new legislation removes the home sale rate increase trigger to provide certainty to the real estate market and ensures greater fiscal solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program. Rate increases of 25 percent mandated under Biggert-Waters will be replaced with premium increases between five percent and 18 percent on primary residence policies until full-risk coverage is reached.
“Congressman LoBiondo has been able to seek long-term solutions to this issue by visiting coastal communities including Middle Township”, Mayor Donohue said. “He has personally met with me and Township officials on various mitigation and financial concerns our waterfront property owners face following Hurricane Sandy”.
Middle Township held a meeting on February 7th with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding various federal programs that are available to property owners. The Philadelphia district of the United States Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting the first phase of the CAP study, the Federal Interest Determination, for Middle Township under Section 103, River and Harbor Act of 1962, Beach Erosion and Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction. The District will be working with local officials to gather information. If the Federal Interest Determination finds that a Feasibility Study is justified in Middle Township, additional federal funding will be requested to initiate the study and execute a cost-sharing agreement with a non-Federal sponsor.
In addition, Middle Township has retained coastal expert Dr. Stewart Farrell to assist with various FEMA flood mapping issues. Dr. Farrell works with m any coastal communities in our region to advise and assist with various issues including beach and dune restoration, environmental issues, and most recently the new FEMA flood maps.