[StBernard] Times Picayune Urges Adoption of Flood Advisories

[Westley Annis]

mj,
 
this is a summary of the issue.  hope this answers your question.
 
God Bless,
Craig

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Craig's Corner
March 20, 2007

Advisory Base Flood Elevations- Again

FEMA has provided written verification as to the practical implications for
adopting the Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) that have been pushed by
the LRA since April, 2006.  By adopting the ABFE, St. Bernard Parish removes
an obstacle set up by the LRA  to receive public infrastructure funding
assistance.  The Parish Council refused to adopt the ABFE until there was
confirmation from FEMA that doing so would not immediately place the entire
parish in a non-compliant category.

The following information about the ABFE issue becomes effective after the
implementation period is completed which will be either 60 or 90 days from
the adoption date of April 3, 2007.  The implementation period will be
decided at the March 20, 2007 council meeting. Based on the information that
has now been received, here is a summary of what the ABFE adoption will mean
to St. Bernard Parish residents.  

.	All new construction, including rebuilding after demolition, will
have to meet the three foot elevation rule;
.	Houses built before 1975 that were not compliant with the 1975
elevation requirements and were substantially damaged (the cost to repair
the house is greater than 50% of the pre-storm value) will have to meet the
three foot elevation requirement;
.	All houses built after 1975 that were substantially damaged but have
started their repair work and can document such with a filed permit in the
Office of Community Development will be grandfathered and will not have to
meet the three foot elevation requirement to be compliant with the National
Flood Insurance Program guidelines;
.	All houses built after 1975 that were not substantially damaged are
automatically grandfathered and will not have to meet the three foot
elevation requirement, but are encouraged to have filed a permit with the
Office of Community Development documenting the start of repair as a
guideline requirement by FEMA;
.	All current elevation zones (A, B, or X500) for flood insurance
coverage will remain unchanged until the new flood elevation maps are
adopted sometime in 2008;
.	All flood insurance policy premiums will continue to hold their
pre-storm status such as preferred risk or standard risk;
.	All residents will continue to have access to flood insurance in St.
Bernard Parish;
.	The ABFE will automatically expire when the new FIRM is adopted by
St. Bernard Parish, even if the new FIRM is lower than the ABFE;
.	Upon implementation of the ABFE, all compliant houses that are
voluntarily raised and had flood insurance are eligible for ICC (Increased
Cost of Compliance) funds.
.	Residents awaiting Road Home grants must meet the elevation
requirements that are set up within the grant program or have met the LRA
deadline for starting repair work to be grandfathered within the LRA
program.

The St. Bernard Parish Council will hold two public hearings on the adoption
of the ABFEs- March 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. and April 3, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
Or additional questions can be sent to my email or call the council office
at 278-4217.

Good luck and God Bless,
Craig Taffaro, Jr
cptcounseling at aol.com