By Joseph L. Kuchie—

SOUTH AMBOY — Concerned residents attended South Amboy’s business meeting on July 10th to question the recent change in the town’s flood maps.

Some homeowners have moved into the “yellow and red zones” due to elevation changes from FEMA, which means they are considered to be in the highest risk for flood damage.

The updated flood maps were posted online but are still considered to be in the preliminary phase, which means they could change before they are finalized. Andrew Horezga presented information to the council that could possibly affect local residents in the red zone.

Horezga, said he has taken two certification classes on the matter, explained that the appeal process for getting the maps changed is an “uphill battle” and there was no way to stop the changes that were coming. He also explained that nearly 100 homes would face consequences and see their insurance rates increase to what would be triple what residents pay for their property tax.

Despite Horezga’s claims, City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz denied these reports and said there were a number of ways the maps could be changed, primarily because of measurement errors in elevation at certain locations. He also told Horezga that he couldn’t possibly confirm the fee increase without seeing the documentation from FEMA.

“You can’t determine that these maps are not going to change, most likely they will change throughout the state,” Rasimowicz said. “There’s going to be an appeal, there’s going to be protest, and there’s going to be changes.”

“You also talked about flood insurance rates are going to be triple the taxes. I don’t know where you’re getting this information,” he continued. “I’m aware there’s going to be increase under the act that was passed long before Sandy, but you’re quoting numbers that FEMA can’t even provide… I don’t know that to be fact.”

Mary Ann Lawton of the Lighthouse Bay complex has a home that is directly affected by the new maps. She explained that the FEMA website said that she would have to make changes to her home and asked the town for help in finding a solution.

Rasimowicz reassured Lawton that she wouldn’t have to make changes unless her home suffered significant damage due to Hurricane Sandy. He also noted that the flood hazard lines haven’t changed, it was just the elevation levels.

“The only way you’d be required to raise everything up is if your home was substantially damaged by the storm where the improvements would cost 50% of the total value of your home,” he said. “These maps didn’t just come out of nowhere, they are based on the previous maps with the adjustments to elevations in some areas.” Rasimowicz reminded the residents attending that these maps were not changed due to Sandy but were actually prepared years before the storm took place.

“These maps were under preparation for five years, they weren’t created due to Sandy which is a misconception,” he said. “These preliminary maps have been worked on for five years along the entire coastline.”

He later said he would sit down and speak with Lawton and Horezga about the process and go over the old maps and how they compared to the preliminary changes. He explained that each home was different in terms of elevation and he would have to look at each unit individually.

Any residents with flood map questions or concerns can call the FEMA hotline at (877) 287-9804.