[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Government Raises Standards to Decrease Flood Insurance Premiums

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Government Raises Standards to Decrease Flood Insurance
Premiums - FEMA Extends Cost Free Demolition Through June 2012
April 18, 2012
 Email    Print    Free Newsletter
Targeted News Service
CHALMETTE, La., April 17 -- St. Bernard Parish issued the following news
release:

In an effort to continue compliance with National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) standards and to position the Parish for application to the Community
Rating System (CRS), St. Bernard Parish Government has re-evaluated the
current permitting process for repairs to storm damaged structures. CRS
participation will ultimately reduce annual flood insurance premiums for all
parish policyholders by no less than 5%.

In order to meet or exceed NFIP standards and because the Parish is no
longer in a state of emergency, permits and meter releases issued prior to
Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) adoption (2007) for structures which
have since not been completely renovated will no longer be honored after
Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Consequently, the renovation of storm damaged
structures may require compliance with the current Advisory Base Flood
Elevation (ABFE), as determined through St. Bernard Parish Government's
evaluation of whether the structure was either substantially damaged during
Hurricane Katrina or that the proposed renovation constitutes a substantial
improvement.

ABFE evaluations will be based on current cost data and the pre-Katrina
market value of the structure. Renovation permits will require proof of the
pre-Katrina value of the home (without land) as well as a detailed cost
breakdown for the renovation of the structure. When a structure is found to
have been substantially damaged or a proposed renovation is found to
constitute a substantial improvement, the property owner will be required to
elevate the structure to the current ABFE.

St. Bernard Parish Government and FEMA have extended the demolition process
for storm damaged structures through June 30, 2012. During this period, FEMA
will demolish structures at no cost to the property owner. Please contact
the Office of Resident Services at (504) 278-4224 in order to sign a Right
of Entry form and have your storm damaged structure demolished at no cost.